Date of Birth: 25/10/1804
Place of Birth: Warwick, England
Date of Death: 16/06/1877
Place of Death: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
| Member of the NSW Legislative Council |
03 Nov 1874 |
16 Jun 1877 |
2 years 7 months 14 days |
Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 29 October 1874 |
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Bookseller and newsagent. Apprenticed to William Perry, printer, bookbinder and bookseller in Warwick in 1817. Started at printery at Leamington. Carried on as a printer, bookseller and newsagent as well as a part owner of the Leamington Chronicle and Warwickshire Reporter in 1835. Arrived in Sydney on 26 September 1838. Worked as a journalist and librarian with Charles Kemp. Purchased the Sydney Herald (later Sydney Morning Herald) on 8 February 1841 on credit. Foundation Director of the Australian Mutual Provident Society in 1851. In 1860's became a Director of the Sydney Insurance Company. New South Wales Marine Insurance Company. Australian Joint Stock Bank. Australian Gaslight Company. Appointed to the Council of Education in 1871.
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of William Fairfax and Elizabeth Jesson. Married Sarah Reading on 31 July 1827 and had issue, 1 daughter and 3 sons. Congregationalist.
Additional Information
Personal papers in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales:
Fairfax family - papers, 1804 - 1948 (MLMSS 459)
