Jenkin Coles

Who was Jenkin Coles?

Sir Jenkin Coles KCMG was an Australian politician, a speaker in South Australia.

Coles was the son of Jenkin and Caroline Coles, came of an old north of Ireland family, and was born at Liverpool, New South Wales. When he was seven years old his family returned to Europe, and he was educated at Christ's Hospital School, London.

Coles' parents came to Australia again in 1858 and settled at Adelaide, South Australia. Coles obtained a position as a junior clerk with the Murray River Navigation office, but gave this up to become assistant dispenser and receiver of stores at the Adelaide hospital for three years. He then joined the mounted police and served for three years in the country. On leaving this service he became an auctioneer and stock salesman and a member of the firm of Coles and Goodchild. The business prospered so much that Coles was able to practically retire from it before he was 40. He was returned to the South Australian House of Assembly as member for Light in 1875, but did not stand at the 1878 election as he found that the strain of carrying on both business and parliamentary duties was too great.