Sydney Smith (Australian politician)
Postmaster-General of Australia | |
|---|---|
| In office 17 August 1904 – 5 July 1905 | |
| Prime Minister | George Reid |
| Preceded by | Hugh Mahon |
| Succeeded by | Austin Chapman |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Macquarie | |
| In office 29 March 1901 – 12 December 1906 | |
| Preceded by | New seat |
| Succeeded by | Ernest Carr |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 April 1856 Colyton, New South Wales |
| Died | 21 February 1934 (aged 77) Sydney |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Free Trade Party |
| Occupation | Grazier |
Sydney Smith (11 April 1856 – 21 February 1934) was an Australian politician. He began his parliamentary career in the
Early years
Born in Colyton, near Penrith, west of Sydney, the son of a hotel keeper, Smith was educated at public schools before gaining work with the railways. Following his marriage in 1879, Smith turned to auctioneering and grazing before following his brother, Thomas Richard, into Parliament.
State politics
Smith was first elected to the
Smith lost his seat by 103 votes at the
Federal politics
While not a parliamentarian, Smith served on the executive of the Free Trade Party and began planning his campaign for a seat in the new federal parliament. He decided to contest Macquarie at the first federal election in 1901 but was given little chance of victory by observers and the local press, who pointed to his earlier anti-federal views and his recent electoral losses as proof that he exercised little influence amongst the electorate. Smith, however, gained the endorsement of the local branch of the influential Loyal Orange Lodge and the support of Free Trade Party leader George Reid—who enjoyed a large personal support amongst voters—and was elected. In 1903, he again won Macquarie, defeating William Sandford.
Smith served as a senior member of the Free Trade Party in opposition before helping to engineer the downfall of the
Smith died in Sydney on 21 February 1934, preceded by his wife and youngest son, killed during the
References
- ^ a b "The Hon. Sydney Smith (1856–1934)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1898 Hastings and Macleay by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ Green, Antony. "June 1900 Canterbury by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ "The close contest at Canterbury: the election declared null and void". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 July 1900. p. 8. Retrieved 12 September 2020 – via Trove.
- ^ Green, Antony. "July 1900 Canterbury by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
- ISBN 0-7322-6702-1.
