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Source : The Australian Dictionary of Dates and Men of the Time, J. Henniker Heaton, Sydney, 1879, p.p. 65-66.
“FINNISS, HON. BOYLE TRAVERS, was born at sea, off the Cape of Good Hope, August 18, 1807; was educated by Dr. Charles Parr Burney, Greenwich, and subsequently at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he attained the position of senior responsible under officer, and was selected as one of six gentleman cadets, distinguished for good conduct and diligence in study, to be appointed to commissions in the Army, in May, 1825. Ensign Finniss was accordingly gazetted to the 88th Regiment, but on the same date obtained a commission in the 56th, the Horse Guards being unaware that they had appointed the same person to the two commissions. He elected to remain in the 56th; was promoted to a lieutenancy in March, 1827, and removed to the 82nd Regiment in June of the same year. In 1835 he sold his commission for the purpose of settling in New South Wales under the Emigration Order of August 25, 1834, and obtained the usual certificate entitling him to a grant of land as a military settler in that colony. He, however, abandoned his intention of proceeding to New South Wales, in consequence of being appointed Assistant Surveyor under Colonel Light, to proceed to South Australia, where he arrived September 11, 1836. He was appointed Deputy Surveyor-General in 1840 by the Governor, Colonel Gawler. On the reductions made in the Civil Service by the next Governor, Mr. (now Sir) George Grey, Mr. Finniss left the service for a time, but in 1843 was appointed Commissioner of Police and Police Magistrate. In 1846 he received the joint appointments of Colonial Treasurer and Registrar-General, and was consequently a Member of the Executive and Legislative Councils. In 1848 he was promoted by the Governor, Sir H. E. F. Young, to the Colonial Secretaryship, which appointment was confirmed by the Imperial Government. As leader of the Legislative Council, he carried the new Parliament Bill in 1853. But it was disallowed in consequence of a numerously signed petition to the Queen objecting to the construction of the Upper House, the Members of which were to be nominated by the Queen for life, with reservation to the Governor to add to their numbers in case of political necessity arising. As Colonial Secretary, Mr. Finniss carried through Legislative Council the present Constitution Act, constituting and Upper Chamber of 18 members, one-third of whom were to retire every four years, the longest term of office being twelve years, except in cases of re-election. On December 20, 1854, the Governor, Sir H. E. F. young, being recalled, left the province before the arrival of his successor, and Mr. Finniss became Acting Governor, which position he held until June 7, 1855, when Sir R. G. MacDonnell arrived and assumed the Government. On the election of the first South Australian Parliament under the new Constitution Act of 1855, Mr. Finniss, who had been appointed Chief Secretary and head of the first ministry, took his seat as one of the members elected for the city of Adelaide. The following measures were introduced by him and carried : - The Waterworks Act, for supplying the city, the Municipal Corporation Act, the Gawler Railway Act, &c. He raised a company of Volunteers called the Adelaide Marksmen, and organised a Volunteer Force of 2,000 men, under the Act of 1853. He was subsequently appointed Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the Adelaide Volunteer Regiment. In the early part of 1864 Mr. Finnis was appointed Government Resident of the Northern Territory. He proceeded to Adam Bay with a party of forty-one, and selected a site for the capital at the mouth of the Adelaide River; but much opposition was raised to this selection, and Mr. Finniss was recalled in November, 1865, and an official inquiry into the selection of the site and his management of the Settlement generally took place. On the report of the Commission being sent in to the Government, he was compelled to tender his resignation. In the year 1866, Mr. Finniss received from the Queen the personal title of Honorable, in recognition of his past services in the Executive Council and in the Ministry. In 1875 he was appointed a Member of the Forest Board, an office which he still retains. In May, 1876, he was appointed Acting Auditor-General fro twelve months, during the absence of the Auditor-General, mr. G. W. Hitchin, on leave.”
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