Sir Josiah Symon, lawyer, politician and philanthropist, emigrated to South Australia from Scotland in 1866. He was admitted to the South Australian Bar in 1871 where he practised until 1923. In 1881 he entered state politics and from 1887 onwards became a strong supporter for Federation working as president of both the South Australian Federal League and the Commonwealth League and a member of the Australasian Federal Convention (1897-1898). Following Federation he was elected to the Senate in the new Federal Parliament where he served until 1913. On 8 December 1881, Symon married Mary Eleanor Cowle. They had five sons and seven daughters (two of whom died in infancy).
From the description of Papers of the Symon family, 1873-1998 (bulk 1860-1939). [1873-1998] (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 271752428
