Sir William Morgan

14th Premier of South Australia

William Morgan was elected to the South Australian Legislative Council in 1867. He became premier in September 1878 and resigned in June 1881 due to personal financial difficulties. During his time in office, extensive public works programs were started including Adelaide’s deep-drainage sewerage system (the first in an Australian capital city) as well as the first buildings of the University of Adelaide, the Public Library and the National Gallery. The town of Morgan, established during his time in office, is named after him. Prior to his time in politics, he had run grocery businesses in the city. Morgan was a founder of the Bank of Adelaide in 1865 and a supporter of free trade. He died on a business trip to England at the age of fifty-five.