William Mair (died 14 October 1897) was a politician in the British colony of South Australia.

Life

Son of William Mair of Jersey, he arrived in South Australia around 1853, and found employment with Philip Levi & Co. He left to join the Public Service, then was appointed secretary of Wallaroo Mines Ltd. He spent some time in New Zealand in business, then returned to Adelaide, where he ran a business as general agents. He was secretary of Adelaide Underwriters' Association Ltd. from 1888 to the time of his death.^[1]

He represented The Sturt in the South Australian House of Assembly from September 1874 to February 1875, and vigorously supported the establishment of railways to Glenelg and Brighton.^[2]

He was elected mayor of Brighton in 1869, and served to November 1871.^[3]

His home "Plantations" in Glenelg was noted for its flower garden.

Family

He married Mary Morphett (15 April 1840 – 30 October 1932), eldest daughter of Sir John Morphett, on 7 July 1862. Their children included:

• Hurtle William Morphett Mair (20 September 1863 – 1940) married Kathleen Dowling (4 April 1876 – ) on 10 July 1900. He died in Quirindi, New South Wales.
• George Hay Morphett Mair (10 July 1865 – ) married Dora List ( – 17 December 1940) on 30 June 1904
• Olive Morphett Mair (1 December 1867 – 17 January 1941) married sharebroker Charles Irwin (c. 1862 – 16 August 1923), son of Canon Irwin of Tasmania, on 2 November 1892
• Burgo Morphett Mair (22 June 1870 – 18 December 1956) married Catherine Amy Johnson ( – 25 May 1911) on 21 August 1901. He married again, to Celia Warden Wilby on 21 July 1926.
• Constance Mary Morphett Mair (21 November 1872 – 5 October 1951) married wine merchant and LCL executive Frederick William Ralph (1863 – 13 December 1944).^[4]

Their home was "Plantations", Glenelg.