Thomas Crawford (Australian politician)
Thomas Crawford | |
---|---|
Senator for Queensland | |
In office 1 July 1917 – 30 June 1947 | |
Personal details | |
Born | (1944–47) | 31 January 1865
Spouse | Emily |
Occupation | Sugar cane farmer |
Thomas William Crawford (31 January 1865 – 8 June 1948) was a
Early life
Crawford was born on 31 January 1865 in East Collingwood, Victoria. He was the oldest of seven children born to Helen (née Lawson) and Thomas Crawford. His mother was born in England,[1] while his father was born in County Armagh, Ireland, and moved to Australia during the Victorian gold rush.[2]
Crawford's father ran a store at
Crawford served on the 1891 royal commission into working conditions, as a representative of the labour movement. He was elected president of the QTA in February 1892, holding office until July 1893 and also serving as a delegate to the Australian Labour Federation. His union was hit hard by the 1890s depression.[2]
Sugar grower
In 1895 Crawford moved to the country, purchasing land near
Political career
Crawford unsuccessfully stood for parliament firstly in
Crawford retained his seat at subsequent elections until his retirement in June 1947. From 1931, he was a member of the
In May 1941, Crawford announced that he would leave the UAP and sit as an independent, in protest at the composition of the Third Menzies ministry – specifically the failure of prime minister Robert Menzies to include MPs who had voted for his opponent Billy Hughes in the UAP leadership ballot.[3]
Respected for his authority on sugar issues, an important industry in Australia at the time, Crawford served as honorary minister and acting minister for trade and customs in the Stanley Bruce government. He was also at times a strong advocate for statehood for the Australian tropics.
Legacy
Crawford died at
References
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d Sullivan, Rodney (2004). "Crawford, Thomas William (1865–1948)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Vol. 2. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ "Senator Crawford leaves U.A.P." The Canberra Times. 31 May 1941.
- ^ "Family Notices". The Courier-Mail. 10 June 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 25 July 2015 – via Trove.
- Ann G. Smith, 'Crawford, Thomas William (1865 - 1948)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 8, Melbourne University Press, 1981, pp 141–142.