Date of Birth: 01/01/1818
Place of Birth: Ballyronan, County Londonderry, Ireland
Date of Death: 23/09/1909
Place of Death: Point Piper, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
| Member of the NSW Legislative Council |
08 Sep 1885 |
23 Sep 1909 |
24 years 16 days |
Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 31 August 1885. |
| Assisted Immigration Committee No.20 |
06 Apr 1880 |
13 Jul 1880 |
3 months 8 days |
|
| Bridge over the Parramatta River Committee No.17 |
10 Feb 1880 |
13 Jul 1880 |
5 months 4 days |
|
| Cohen’s Enabling Bill Committee No.26 |
04 Apr 1879 |
29 Apr 1879 |
26 days |
|
| Orange Town Hall Sale Bill Committee No.22 |
31 Jan 1879 |
24 Jul 1879 |
5 months 24 days |
|
| Land at corner of Pitt and Bridge Streets Committee No.23 |
12 Apr 1878 |
17 May 1878 |
1 month 6 days |
|
| Sunday Sale of Liquors Prevention Bill Committee No.21 |
22 Mar 1878 |
16 May 1878 |
1 month 25 days |
|
| Inverell Free Church of Eastern Australia Land Sale Bill Committee No.20 |
20 Mar 1878 |
28 Mar 1878 |
9 days |
|
| Lyndhurst Sale Bill Committee No.9 |
31 Jan 1878 |
13 Feb 1878 |
14 days |
|
| Member for Kiama |
27 Oct 1877 |
17 Jun 1880 |
2 years 7 months 22 days |
|
| Sydney Common Improvement Act Amendment Bill Committee No.15 |
06 Feb 1877 |
22 Feb 1877 |
17 days |
|
| Petition of Wilson and Cawley Committee No.21 |
11 Apr 1876 |
19 Jul 1876 |
3 months 9 days |
|
| The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 |
16 Nov 1875 |
16 Nov 1875 |
1 day |
|
| Petition of Mr Stephen Stanbridge Committee No.17 |
30 Jun 1875 |
28 Jul 1875 |
29 days |
|
| Dubbo Presbyterian Manse Trustee Bill Committee No.10 |
20 Apr 1875 |
11 Aug 1875 |
3 months 23 days |
|
| Ultimo Presbyterian Church Trustees Bill Committee No.8 |
02 Apr 1875 |
03 Jun 1875 |
2 months 2 days |
|
| Member for Kiama |
18 Dec 1874 |
12 Oct 1877 |
2 years 9 months 25 days |
|
| Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly |
18 Dec 1874 |
17 Jun 1880 |
5 years 6 months |
|
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Mariner. Had a commercial education. Farmer and a quarry owner when he was elected to the Legislative Assembly. Former shipwright in Belfast and served on coastal ships. Was the Captain of a steamer with the Ulster Canal and Railway Company and manager of their dockyards, in the early 1840's. Arrived in Sydney in 1844 and worked in the coastal trade until 1846, when he entered the Pacific trade with his own brigantine. Established a coal export trade to the United States of America in 1849 and visited the Californian goldfields. Also travelled to Great Britain to obtain a steamer for the Kiama Steam Navigation Company. Settled on a farm in Kiama where he organised the first shipment of butter to London in 1864. He speculated in land and had extensive quarrying interests which for some years returned £1000 per annum. Was a foundation member of the League of Ancient Mariners. Visited Europe and America in 1880.
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Alderman at Kiama from 1868 until 1870.
Personal
Son of Richard, a sergeant-major in the fifth Dragoons, and Margaret Hull. Married Sarah Ann Gray on 30 May 1855 at Gerringong, New South Wales and had issue, 6 sons and 2 daughters. His brother-in-law, Samuel William Gray, was a Member of the Legislative Assembly in the third, fourth, eigth, ninth and 11th Parliaments. Church of England.
Additional Information
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 3. Biography and portrait in
‘Australian Men of Mark’, Volume 1. Sydney, [?1889] , page
149
