Robert Palmer Abbott (1830 – 31 October 1901) was a politician and solicitor in colonial New South Wales, a member of both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
Robert Abbott | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Palmer Abbott 1830 Broadford, County Clare, Ireland |
| Died | 31 October 1901 (aged 70–71) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | politician |
Abbott was born in Broadford, County Clare in Ireland, and emigrated to Sydney as a boy with his parents, Eleanor, née Kingsmill and Thomas Abbott, policeman, arriving in the colony in 1838.[1]
He was admitted a solicitor in 1854,[2] subsequently specialising in litigation concerning the Robertson Land Acts, and had opened an office in Tamworth.[1]
Abbott ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Legislative Assembly at the 1869 election for Tenterfield,[3] and the 1871 New England by-election,[4] before winning the 1872 election for Tenterfield, serving as the member for Tenterfield until his defeat at the 1877 election.[3] He was Secretary for Mines in the first ministry of Henry Parkes from 27 July 1874 until 8 February 1875,[5] and was Mayor of East St Leonards from February 1878 until February 1879.[6]
He returned to the Assembly as the member for Hartley at the 1880 election.[7] He was nominated to the Legislative Council in 1885, and sat till 1 March 1888, when he resigned, owing to his objection to certain appointments.[2] He was a member of the New South Wales Commission in London for the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886.[5]
He assisted his cousin, Joseph Abbott, be elected at the 1888 Newtown by-election,[1][8] while his nephew, Sir Joseph Palmer Abbott, served in the Legislative Assembly for 21 years, including 10 years as Speaker.[9]
Abbott never married and died at Tempe on 31 October 1901 (aged 70–71).[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Nairn, Bede. "Abbott, Robert Palmer (1830–1901)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
- ^ a b Mennell, Philip (1892). . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
- ^ a b Green, Antony. "Elections for the District of Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1971 New England by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Mr Robert Palmer Abbott (1830-1901)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ "Borough of East St Leonards". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 60. 19 February 1878. p. 780. Retrieved 10 April 2019 – via Trove.
- ^ Green, Antony. "Elections for the District of Hartley". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ "Mr Joseph Abbott (1843-1903)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ^ "Sir Joseph Palmer Abbott (1842-1901)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 April 2019.