Frank Madden (politician)

Sir Frank Madden (29 November 1847 – 17 February 1921) was an Irish-born Australian politician who served as the Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Madden was born in Cork to solicitor John Madden and Margaret Macoboy. His family migrated to Melbourne in 1857; Madden subsequently worked as a jackeroo near Skipton before becoming a solicitor. In 1874 he married Annie Eliza Francis, with whom he had seven children. He founded the firm of Madden & Butler and also served as president of the Law Institute from 1886 to 1887.

Sir Frank Madden
11th Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
In office 29 June 1904 – October 1917
Preceded by	William Beazley
Succeeded by	John Mackey
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Eastern Suburbs
In office 1894–1904
Preceded by	Duncan Gillies
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Boroondara
In office 1904–1917
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Edmund Greenwood
Personal details
Born	29 November 1847 Cork, Ireland
Died	17 February 1921(1921-02-17) (aged 73) Kew, Victoria, Australia

Madden was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1894, representing Eastern Suburbs. He transferred to Boroondara in 1904, and was elected Speaker. He was knighted in 1911, and remained in the Speaker's chair until his defeat in 1917. Madden died in Kew in 1921.[1]

Madden was a close friend of the poet Adam Lindsay Gordon and walked home with Gordon from Melbourne to St Kilda (in the years before public trams were introduced to Melbourne) on the night before Gordon's suicide in June 1870.[2]