Richard Jones (1786–1852)

Richard Jones (1786 – 6 November 1852) was an English-born politician in New South Wales and Queensland (then part of New South Wales), Australia.

For his son (1843–1909) who was a member of the Legislative Council (1899–1909), see Richard Jones (New South Wales politician, born 1843). For the NSW politician (1816–1892) who was a member of the Legislative Assembly (1856–1860), see Richard Jones (1816–1892). For the NSW politician Richard Stanley Leigh Jones (1940–) who was a member of the Legislative Council (1988–2003), see Richard Jones (New South Wales politician, born 1940).

For other people with similar names, see Richard Jones (disambiguation).

Early life

Jones was born at Chirbury in Shropshire to Thomas Bowdler Jones, small landowner and brewer, and Elizabeth Ann (née) Philips. He was a clerk in London before migrating to New South Wales, where he became a merchant and pastoralist. In 1823 he married Mary Louisa Peterson, with whom he had eight children.[1][2]

Politics

On 30 January 1829, Jones was an appointed member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, a role he held until 5 January 1843. In 1832, the Council changed from a fully appointed body to become a body of 36 members with 12 appointed and 24 elected. From 17 July 1843 Jones continued as an appointed member of the Council.[1][3] However, even as he appointed, his merchantile business was suffering in the economic downturn that prevailed from 1842 to 1844. In August 1843, he was unable to pay debts of £180,000 and he became insolvent in October 1843,[4][5] forcing him to resign from the Council, effective 1 November 1843. Barrister Robert Lowe was appointed to the Council to replace him.[6][1]

Having moved to Brisbane (then part of New South Wales but later in Queensland), on 1 October 1850 Jones was elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council representing the electoral district of Counties of Gloucester, Macquarie, and Stanley (Brisbane being within the County of Stanley). He held the position until 30 June 1851, when the electorate was split into three separate electorates. He was then elected on 1 September 1851 to the Council as the member for the new electoral district of Stanley Boroughs, which included North Brisbane (the settled areas north of the Brisbane River), South Brisbane, Kangaroo Point and Ipswich. He held that position until his death on 6 November 1852.[1]

Later life

While in Sydney where the Legislative Council met, Jones had a paralytic fit. He returned to his home in New Farm, where he died on Saturday 6 November 1852.[1] On Sunday 7 November 1952, his body was taken by boat to Brisbane where was buried in the North Brisbane Burial Ground with Church of England rites conducted by Reverend H.O. Irwin from St John's. It was estimated that 300 to 400 people attended the burial[7]

Legacy

One of his sons, also called Richard was appointed as a member of the Legislative Council in 1899 until his death in 1909.[8]

References
  1. "Mr Richard Jones [1] (1786–1852)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  2. Shineberg, D (1967). "Jones, Richard (1786–1852)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  3. "Legislative Council". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 July 1843. p. 4. Retrieved 24 February 2018 – via Trove.
  4. "Sydney". Colonial Times. 15 August 1843. p. 3. Retrieved 25 February 2018 – via Trove.
  5. "Trade and commerce". Adelaide Observer. 7 October 1843. p. 2. Retrieved 25 February 2018 – via Trove.
  6. "Proclamation: appointment of Robert Lowe to the Legislative Council". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 96. 10 November 1843. p. 1478. Retrieved 23 April 2019 – via Trove.
  7. "THE LATE RICHARD JONES, ESQ". The Moreton Bay Courier. Queensland, Australia. 13 November 1852. p. 2. Retrieved 20 May 2020 – via Trove.
  8. "Mr Richard Jones [3] (1843–1909)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
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