Richard Sumner
| The Hon 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(s) | Eliza Jane Robinson (m.1886 d.1933) |
| Occupation | Pineapple farmer, Small business owner |
| Religion | Congregationalist |
Richard Sumner (1859 – 11 June 1927) was a member of both the Queensland Legislative Council and Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]
Sumner was born at Bolton, Lancashire, to Joseph Sumner and his wife Ann (née Moore) and educated at the Mechanics' Institute.[1] Arriving in Queensland at age 24, he took up Pineapple farming at Zillmere in the 1880's before establishing a fruit preserving factory in Fortitude Valley. Sumner was President of the Queensland Central Executive for the Australian 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.[2] He held the seat until the 1909 when the former member, Thomas Bridges, defeated Sumner by 178 votes.[3]
When the Labour Party starting forming governments in Queensland, it found much of its legislation being blocked by a hostile Council, where members had been appointed for life by successive conservative governments. After a failed referendum in May 1917,[4] 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.[5]
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 the 6th April 1886, Smith married Eliza Jane Robinson at Brisbane and together had three sons and four daughters.[1] He died in Brisbane in June of 1927 and was buried at Nundah Cemetery.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ↑ "SUMMARY OF RESULTS.". The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 21 May 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ↑ "GENERAL ELECTION.". Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld. : 1867 - 1919) (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 4 October 1909. p. 8. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ↑ "TWO HOUSES, NOT ONE.". The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864–1933) (Qld.: 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.