John Thompson Palache
'Jack' Palache was known as a lawyer, an agriculturalist, and, perhaps most of all, as an authority on horse racing; he also served on the Legislative Council.
death of J. T. Palache's father in September, 1874
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Daily Gleaner, September 24, 1884
JOHN THOMAS PALACHE, ESQ. of Woodlawn Penn, the member for the important Parish of Manchester, was born in that Parish on 30th May, 1846, and is therefore now in his 39th year. He is the son of the late John Palache — whose father in the palmy days of Jamaica, belonged to the prominent firm of Moravien and Palache of Kingston — by his marriage with Sophia, eldest daughter of the late Henry Bunthrone, of Woodlawn. His early days were spent at home, thence he was sent to be educated at the Moravian College at Fairfield, where he gave promise of a bright future. Having completed his studies, he was articled to John Swaby Harrison, an eminent Attorney-at-Law. After that gentleman gave up practice and went to America, Mr Palache went to Kingston to complete his time with the firm of Hill, An?? & Harvey. Passing a very creditable examination, he returned to Mandeville and commenced the practice of his profession on his own account. Subsequently, on the advice of his friends, he accepted an offer from Arthur Levy, Esq., to join him, and they did a prosperous business for 10 years, under the well known firm name of Levy & Palache. This co-partnership terminated on the 30th of June last, and he now enjoys an extensive private practice having retained the confidence of most of the clients of the late firm. He is an authority on racing matters, and takes a warm interest in agriculture, being himself a practical agriculturist. He is thoroughly conversant with the statistics of his native land, is very popular, gave most important and appreciated information to the Royal Commissioners, acted as Secretary to the Franchise Commission, and now promises to make his mark in the new Council. Daily Gleaner, February 10, 1896
HON. J. T. PALACHE. The senior elected member of the new Council is the Hon. J[ohn] T[homson] Palache who has for the third time been returned unopposed for Manchester and will be the only one of the original nine members, elected on the institution of the present form of Government [1884], who will have a seat in the new Council. Mr. Palache is descended from a notable old family being a grandson of the late Mordecai Palache of the once celebrated Kingston mercantile firm of Moravia and Palache and was born at Woodlawn in Manchester about fifty years ago and was educated at the Moravian College at Fairfield and still retains the affection and regard of the entire Moravian Body in Manchester. After leaving school Mr. Palache was articled to Mr. John Swaby Harrison late Clerk of the Peace and Magistrate's Clerk for Manchester and completed his services under Mr. T. L. Harvey of Kingston. He was admitted as a Solicitor on the 11th of February, 1873 and in June, 1885, was admitted as an Advocate on the same day as his late chief Mr. T. L. Harvey. In the practice of his profession the subject of this sketch has been eminently successful and has been engaged in some of the most notable cases tried in the Jamaica Courts. On one occasion Mr. Palache was charged by a client [T.A.S. Manley, father of Norman Manley] with having neglected his case. The matter was heard in the Supreme Court of Jamaica and afterwards was referred to the Privy Council of England when Mr. Palache was fully exonerated from all the charges made against him. During the last session of the Council the member for Manchester has through a series of causes, being prevented from regularly attending the sittings, but on each occasion when he has been present he has taken an active part in the proceedings of the Council and has proved himself, not only a clever debater, but a man of practical common sense and modern views. When the question of Extended Representation [providing a member for each of the 14 parishes] was first introduced Mr. Palache delivered a comprehensive and brilliant address, in fact the speech of the session on the question. In agricultural matters Mr. Palache has also taken an especial interest, and at all our Agricultural and Horticultural Shows is almost certain to head the prize list. And as a member of the Select Committee appointed to consider the advisability of establishing an Agricultural Department, he rendered marked service to the Government and the Island by the painstaking and intelligent part in the investigations. Mr. Palache is a pronounced free trader and although an extensive landowner has always advocated cheap food stuffs and a tax on land values. The honorable member for Manchester is a keen supporter of the turf and probably the honorable gentleman, himself in his heart of hearts is prouder of his successes on the turf than of his distinction as a legislator. But he has reason to be proud of both. Mr. Palache made his debut on the turf in 1886 adopting the banner of the Manchester cricket club, green and gold stripes for his colours, speedily ran up a score; the Kingston Two Year Old Stakes four years in succession and the Kingston Cup four years successively, and besides in the other cups and almost all the other races in their turn - a record of which, even with becoming modesty he may be justly proud. Throughout his racing career Mr. Palache has always enjoyed an enviable reputation as being a true and honest sportsman. Throughout the parish of Manchester, and in fact the whole island, Mr. Palache enjoys a considerable practice of his profession. When not engaged "on Circuit" he spends most of his time at his residence, Woodlawn, looking after his horses and dispensing the most liberal hospitality to his numerous friends. |
the house at Woodlawn Pen, as it may have looked in the 1890s
“Mass Jack” Palache died in December 1923.
