Robert Abbott (New South Wales politician)

Robert Palmer Abbott (1830 – 31 October 1901) was a politician and solicitor in colonial New South Wales, a member of both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

Abbott was born in Broadford, County Clare in Ireland, and emigrated to Sydney as a boy with his parents, Eleanor, née Kingsmill and Thomas Abbott, policeman, arriving in the colony in 1838.[1]

He was admitted a solicitor in 1854,[2] subsequently specialising in litigation concerning the Robertson Land Acts, and had opened an office in Tamworth.[1]

Abbott ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Legislative Assembly at the 1869 election for Tenterfield,[3] and the 1871 New England by-election,[4] before winning the 1872 election for Tenterfield, serving as the member for Tenterfield until his defeat at the 1877 election.[3] He was Secretary for Mines in the first ministry of Henry Parkes from 27 July 1874 until 8 February 1875,[5] and was Mayor of East St Leonards from February 1878 until February 1879.[6]

He returned to the Assembly as the member for Hartley at the 1880 election.[7] He was nominated to the Legislative Council in 1885, and sat till 1 March 1888, when he resigned, owing to his objection to certain appointments.[2] He was a member of the New South Wales Commission in London for the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886.[5]

He assisted his cousin, Joseph Abbott, be elected at the 1888 Newtown by-election,[1][8] while his nephew, Sir Joseph Palmer Abbott, served in the Legislative Assembly for 21 years, including 10 years as Speaker.[9]

Abbott never married and died at Tempe on 31 October 1901(1901-10-31) (aged 70–71).[1]