SIR

See also:

• ROBERT
• ROBERT (1275—1343)
• ROBERT, HUBERT (1753-1808)
• ROBERT, LOUIS LEOPOLD (1794-1835)

ROBERT

See also:

• RICHARD
• RICHARD (d. 1184)
• RICHARD, FRANCOIS MARIE BENJAMIN (18,9-1908)
• RICHARD, HENRY (1812-1888)
• RICHARD, ST

RICHARD

See also:

• TORRENS, ROBERT (1780-1864)
• SIR ROBERT RICHARD TORRENS (1814-1884)
• TORRENS, WILLIAM TORRENS

TORRENS (1814-1884)  , British colonial statesman, was born at Cork, Ireland, in 1814, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin . He went to South Australia in 184o, and was appointed collector of customs . He was an official member of the first legislative council and in 1852 was treasurer and registrar-general . When responsible government was established he was elected as a representative for Adelaide and became a member of the first ministry . In 1857 he introduced his famous Real Property Act, the principle of which consists of conveyance by registration and certificate instead of deeds . The system was rapidly adopted in the other colonies and elsewhere, and was expounded by the author during a visit to the United Kingdom in 1862-1864 . After leaving South Australia, Sir R . R . Torrens represented Cambridge in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1874; in 1872 he was knighted . He was the author of works on the effect of the gold discoveries on the currency, and other subjects . He died on the 31st of August 1884 .