Richard Sumner
Richard Sumner | |
|---|---|
 Richard Sumner, 1911 | |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Nundah | |
| In office 18 May 1907 – 2 October 1909 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Bridges |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Bridges |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Council | |
| In office 10 October 1917 – 23 March 1922 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Sumner 1859 Bolton, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 11 June 1927 (aged 67or 68) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Resting place | Nundah Cemetery |
| Nationality | English Australian |
| Spouse | Eliza Jane Robinson (m.1886 d.1933) |
| Occupation | Pineapple farmer, Small business owner |
Richard Sumner (January 1859 – 11 June 1927) was a member of both the Queensland Legislative Council and Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]
Early life
Sumner was born in January 1859 at Bolton, Lancashire, to Joseph Sumner and his wife Ann (née Moore) and educated at the Mechanics' Institute.[1][2]
Arriving in Queensland in 1883 at age 24, he took up Pineapple farming at Zillmere in the 1880s before establishing a fruit preserving factory in Fortitude Valley.[2] Sumner was President of the Queensland Central Executive for the Labor Party, Controller of the Trade Boards and a Commissioner on the Commonwealth Price Fixing Board. He was also a director and guarantor for the Daily Standard.
Political career
Before joining the Labour Party, Sumner was a supporter of the Kidston–Morgan ministry and later the Opposition group. At the 1907 state election, he was a candidate for the seat of Nundah and defeated Mt Atthow by 152 votes.[3] He held the seat until the 1909 when the former member, Thomas Bridges, defeated Sumner by 178 votes.[4]
When the Labour Party starting forming governments in Queensland, it found much of its legislation being blocked by a hostile Queensland Legislative Council, where members had been appointed for life by successive conservative governments. After a failed referendum in May 1917,[5] Premier Ryan tried a new tactic, and later that year advised the Governor, Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, to appoint thirteen new members whose allegiance lay with Labour to the Council.[6]
Sumner was one of the thirteen new members, and went on to serve for four and a half years until the Council was abolished in March, 1922.[1]
Personal life
On 6 April 1886, Smith married Eliza Jane Robinson at Brisbane and together had three sons and four daughters.[1] On 11 June 1927 he died at his home "Langton", Norman Parade, Eagle Junction, Brisbane in June 1927 after several months of illness. He was buried the same day at Nundah Cemetery.[2][7][8]
References
- ^ a b c d "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ^ a b c ""Dick" Sumner Goes to his Rest". The Daily Standard. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 11 June 1927. p. 1. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
- ^ "SUMMARY OF RESULTS". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 21 May 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ^ "GENERAL ELECTION". Warwick Examiner and Times. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 4 October 1909. p. 8. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ^ "TWO HOUSES, NOT ONE". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 7 May 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ^ "Goold-Adams, Sir Hamilton John (1858–1920)" Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ^ Sumner Richard — Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ^ "Family Notices". The Daily Standard. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 11 June 1927. p. 1. Retrieved 19 May 2015.