Family and Legacy
Downer married twice: firstly to Elizabeth Henderson (daughter of the Rev. J. Henderson), and secondly to Una Stella Haslingden Russell, who survived him with one son of each marriage. (The son of his second marriage was Alexander Russell Downer, who served in the Menzies government, was knighted, and served as Australian High Commissioner in London, and whose son, Alexander Downer served as leader of the (Opposition) Liberal party in 1994 and Foreign Minister in the Howard government.)
A brother and partner in his business, Henry Edward Downer, entered the South Australian parliament in 1881 and was attorney-general in the John Cockburn ministry from May to August 1890. Another brother, A(lexander) George Downer (28 January 1839 – 17 August 1916) was his partner in the legal firm G & J Downer and a prominent businessman.
He was created KCMG in 1887.
The Canberra suburb of Downer, Australian Capital Territory was named after him in 1960.
Read more about this topic: John Downer
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