Wise, Bernhard Ringrose, 1858 – 1916

Bernhard Ringrose Wise (1858-1916), barrister and parliamentarian, was born at Sydney, son of Edward Wise and his wife Maria, nee Smith. He was educated at Rugby School, England, and the University of Oxford where he graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1881. After graduation he studied law and was called to the Bar in 1883. Returning to Sydney in 1883 he was admitted to the NSW Bar, becoming a Q.C. in 1898.

Wise was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seats of South Sydney (1887-1889, 1891-1894), Sydney Flinders (1894-1895), and Ashfield (1898-1900). He was appointed Attorney-General in 1887 and after only nine months he resigned from this position to concentrate on his legal career. During the next ten years he supported Sir Henry Parkes both as a free trader and a federationist. In 1899 he was appointed Attorney-General again and also Minister for Justice. He was appointed to the NSW Legislative Council in 1900. In 1904 he retired from politics and spent much of the remainder of his life in England. His seat in the NSW Legislative Council was declared vacant in 1908 due to his continuing absence from the country. In 1915 he was appointed Agent-General for NSW but died in London a year later. [ref:ADB 12]