Francis Augustus Wright

Francis Augustus Wright (1 August 1835 – 1 October 1903) was a merchant sailor, gold miner, carrier and member of the Parliament of New South Wales.

The Honourable
Francis Augustus Wright
JP
Secretary for Public Works
In office
28 May 1883 – 6 October 1885
PremierSir Alexander Stuart
Preceded byHenry Copeland
Succeeded byHenry Badgery
Mayor of Redfern
In office
February 1882 – February 1885
Preceded byPatrick Stanley
Succeeded byGeorge Lander
Alderman on the Redfern Municipal Council
In office
February 1873 – 2 September 1886
Succeeded byJohn Beveridge
ConstituencyBelmore Ward
Personal details
Born(1835-08-01)1 August 1835
London, England, United Kingdom
Died1 October 1903(1903-10-01) (aged 68)
Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
 Australia
Branch/serviceNew South Wales NSW Colonial Forces
Years of service1873 – 1902
RankLieutenant Colonel
UnitSydney Bn. Volunteer Rifles

Early life

Wright was born in London, England to Eliza née Lunn. His father, also named Frances Augustus Wright, was a Captain of the Royal Navy, and the family emigrated to New South Wales in 1836. Wright went to sea as an apprentice, returning to Australia in 1852 and working in the gold fields of Victoria and New South Wales for three years. He married Alice Marcia Williams on 19 December 1864.[1][2]

Politics

In 1873 Wright was elected as an alderman for the Municipality of Redfern, serving until 1887,[3] including a period as He became Mayor of Redfern from February 1882 until February 1885.[1] At a by-election in 1882 he was elected as a member for Redfern in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly,[4] He was a friend of Henry Copeland and both were appointed ministers in the Stuart ministryfrom January 1883, with Wright being allocated the portfolio of Postmaster-General. Copeland was forced to resign two months later and in May 1883 Wright was allocated Copeland's former portfolio of Secretary for Public Works,holding it until October 1885, when he joined the Dibbs ministry, and held office as Secretary for Mines until his defeat for Redfern in October 1885.[2][5][6]

Both Wright and Copeland were committed free traders, however both altered their positions, becoming members of the Protectionist Party.[1] Wright returned to politics as a Protectionist candidate for Glen Innes, winning the seat at the 1889 election,[7] and retaining it until his death.[2][5]

He was a commissioner for New South Wales for the international exhibitions in London in 1886 and Chicago in 1893.[1]

Wright died in Ryde, Sydney on 1 October 1903 (aged 68). Alice and he had 5 daughters and 5 sons and he was survived by Alice, 3 daughters and 2 sons.[1]

See also

References
  1. Rutledge, Martha. "Wright, Francis Augustus (1835–1903)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  2. "Mr Francis Augustus Wright (1835-1903)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  3. "Municipal elections". Empire. 19 February 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 1 February 2016 – via Trove.
  4. Green, Antony. "1882 Redfern by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  5. Mennell, Philip (1892). "Wright, Francis Augustus" . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
  6. Green, Antony. "1885 Redfern". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  7. Green, Antony. "1889 Glen Innes". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 17 April 2020.

 


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