The personal seal of Sir Daniel Cooper Bt (1821-1902),
Merchant and philanthropist, first baronet of Woollahra.
Lapis Lazuli and copper/bronze with cornelian seal intagilo.
In original red Moroccan leather case.
English circa 1860
L:10cm
Sir Daniel Cooper (1821-1902), merchant and philanthropist, born in Lancashire, England, the second son of Thomas Cooper, he went to Sydney with his parents, but returned to England at 14 to complete his education at the Junior School of University College, London. In 1839 he began training for a legal career but in 1841 abandoned his studies because of failing health and joined a French-American firm at Le Havre to gain commercial experience. He returned in 1842 to work in the London counting house of his uncle, Daniel Cooper.
Afflicted again with ill health, Cooper went to Sydney in 1843 and became a commercial partner of his brother-in-law, James Holt. Holt moved to England in 1845, the partnership was dissolved in 1848 and the business taken over by Cooper and his elder brother. Reputed then to be 'about the most extensive mercantile house in the Australian colonies', Cooper Brothers passed entirely into Daniel's hands in 1852 and under his direction prospered in the gold rush years. When his uncle Daniel died in 1853 Cooper inherited further wealth. He then owned extensive property in and around Sydney and held large stations at the western districts; he was a director of the Sydney Railway Co. in 1850 and a director of the Bank of New South Wales from 1847, being president in 1855-61. He was appointed to the Commission of the Peace and became a magistrate in 1851.
Cooper sat a an elected member in the Legislative Council in 1849-51 and 1855-56. In 1856 he represented Sydney Hamlets in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was elected speaker. He was a political associate of the liberal leaders, (Sir) Charles Cowper and (Sir) Henry Parkes, and gave financial support to the Empire, which declared his political principles to be 'of so liberal a cast that, were he less identified with the great interests of property, he would be set down as a dangerous democrat'. Cooper later attributed all his interest in public affairs to Parkes's 'example and teaching'. His youth and 'party; affiliations caused some misgivings at his election as Speaker in 1856 but he fulfilled the role with dignity and skill as members unanimously declared at a great complimentary dinner when he retired from office in 1860.
Cooper built at Point Piper a family mansion, Woollahra House, costing over £50,000; the foundation stone was laid by Governor Sir William Denison in 1856. The building was then regarded as 'a pledge of his abiding attachment to his adopted country', but Cooper left for England in 1861 and never again resided permanently in New South Wales.
He was knighted by patent on 18 July 1857, created baronet of Woollahra 1863 and appointed K.C.M.G. in 1880 and G.C.M.G. in 1888. He died at his home in Kensington, London, on 5 June 1902, leaving an estate valued at more than £440,000. He was survived bt his wife Elizabeth, whom he married in 1846 and his two sons and three daughters.