Married Mary Ann Clark in 1863; six sons and four daughters
NSW MLA (member for Murray, Deniliquin) 1885-1901; Secretary for Mines 1889
First President of Australian Natives’ Association in NSW 1900-01
Inaugural Moama Mayor 1891
Noted for his democratic views and supported the first Prime Minister Edmund Barton in the lead-up to Federation
Longest-serving Member for Riverina
First Chairman of Committees 1901-03; also for four periods from 1914-22
Member of Select Committee on Shipping Services 1905
Member of Royal Commissions on ocean shipping service (1906) and on stripper harvesters and drills (1908-09)
The first Member of the House of Representatives to be defeated three times in the same seat.
Described in the Australian Dictionary of Biography as: “A hard-working local member who was well acquainted with the vast areas he represented and considered every request from his constituents. Tall and rugged, he was a quiet man who spoke infrequently in debates, but when he did, explored all details of his subject and held tenaciously to his viewpoint.”
