John Thomas Eustace

Lieutenant Colonel John Thomas Eustace (March 9, 1825 – December 25, 1919) was an influential conservative member of the Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope. Early life, military and business Born in 1825 at Grosvenor Place, London, he was the eldest son of Lieutenant General Sir William Cornwallis Eustace, and his wife Caroline Margaret, daughter of John King, M.P. of Aldenham House, Herts., In spite of his poor health, he joined the army after his studies, as much of his family had. After purchasing a commission in the 60th rifles, he commanded Turkish irregular cavalry in the Crimean War, served in the Middle East, and was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, before emigrating to the Cape Colony. Here, he briefly served as commanding officer of the Cape Town Rifles in 1858, and lieutenant colonel of the Cape Town Volunteers. He was one of the Directors of the Cape Town Railway and Dock Company (an early predecessor of the Cape Government Railways) when it was formed in 1857. He served as Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, married Edith Kate Twentyman in 1860, settled in Wynberg, Cape Town, and had thirteen children. Like the rest of his family, his male children mostly pursued careers in the military. His eldest daughter Emily Laura Alicia Eustace (1870-1941) married Henry George de Graeff van Polsbroek (1858-1941), styled Baron van Polsbroek. Parliament (1869-74) He served as one of the four members representing Cape Town in the Cape Parliament. Although Cape Town was a predominantly liberal constituency, Eustace himself was a strong conservative. As such he supported stronger links with the British Empire, a greater roll-out of missionary work in Africa, and a military approach to the Cape Colony's frontier relations.