Biography Sir John Langdon Bonython
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Sir John Langdon Bonython (1848-1939) Sir Edward Nicholas Coventry Braddon (1829-1904) Member for South Australia 1901-1903 Member for Tasmania 1901-1903 Member for Barker (South Australia) 1903-1906 Member for Wilmot (Tasmania) 1903-1904 orn in London, England, John Langdon A man well-known for his generosity, dward (Ned) Braddon was born at St Kew, Braddon, a Freetrader, was elected to the BBonython arrived in South Australia in especially towards educational institutions, ECornwall, England, and had a successful House of Representatives for Tasmania in 1854. He joined the Advertiser (Adelaide) Bonython donated large sums of his vast career as a civil servant in India from 1847 1901 at the first federal election, receiving as a reporter in 1864 and became editor fortune to various causes. Bonython sold to 1878. He was involved in many aspects of an impressive 26% of the vote to top the poll. in 1879, a position he held for 45 years. the Advertiser in 1929 for £1 250 000 and colonial administration before migrating to When Tasmania was divided into federal He became sole proprietor of the newspaper upon his death in 1939 his estate was sworn Tasmania in 1878. electoral divisions, he became the member in 1893. Bonython promoted the cause of for probate at over £4 million. He was twice for Wilmot. Braddon died in office in 1904. federation through the Advertiser, but was knighted, first in 1898 for services to the Braddon became involved in Tasmanian vigilant of the rights of smaller states such newspaper industry, and again in 1919 for colonial politics in 1879, was Tasmanian At the age 71 years 9 months Braddon was as South Australia in the federal alliance. his services to the Commonwealth. Agent–General in London 1881-93, and served the oldest member to be elected to the first as Premier of Tasmania 1894-99. A supporter House of Representatives. He was knighted Bonython was elected to represent South of federation, Braddon was a member of the in 1893. Australia in the House of Representatives Federal Council of Australasia in 1888, and at the first federal election in 1901. Bonython 1895-99, and was President in 1895. He was favoured protection policies and played a part elected as a delegate to the 1897-98 in the Commonwealth taking over the Australasian Federal Convention. He was administration of the Northern Territory. responsible for the introduction of section He was elected unopposed to the seat of 87 of the Constitution which enabled the Barker in 1903, but did not stand for election return of revenue from customs and excise in 1906. He sat on a number of committees to the states, (known as “Braddon’s Blot” and royal commissions. and “the Braddon Clause”). The state of South Australia did not divide into electoral divisions for the purposes of the first The state of Tasmania did not divide into electoral divisions for the purposes of the first federal federal election. South Australia, as a whole, was also represented in the first House of election. Tasmania, as a whole, was also represented in the first House of Representatives by: Representatives by: Egerton Lee Batchelor Frederick William Holder Alexander Poynton Donald Norman Cameron King O’Malley Patrick McMahon Glynn Charles Cameron Kingston Vaiben Louis Solomon Sir Philip Oakley Fysh Frederick William Piesse.