Richard Crouch

Richard Crouch

Crouch in 1929
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Corio
In office
29 March 1901  13 April 1910
Preceded by New seat
Succeeded by Alfred Ozanne
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Corangamite
In office
12 October 1929  19 December 1931
Preceded by William Gibson
Succeeded by William Gibson
Personal details
Born (1868-06-19)19 June 1868
Ballarat East, Victoria
Died 7 April 1949(1949-04-07) (aged 80)
Queenscliff, Victoria
Nationality Australian
Political party Protectionist (190109)
Liberal (190910)
Labor (192931)
Alma mater University of Melbourne
Profession Barrister and Solicitor
Religion Congregationalist
Richard Crouch, Protectionist and CLP MP for Corio 1901-1910

Richard Armstrong Crouch (19 June 1868 – 7 April 1949) was an Australian politician.

Crouch was born on at Ballarat East, Victoria, son of George Crouch, miner, storekeeper and later a wealthy boot-retailer from Tottenham, London, and his wife Selina Durham, née Marks, from Aberdeen, Scotland.

Crouch was elected to Federal Parliament in 1901 with a majority of 1,130 votes, as a member of the Protectionist Party and Commonwealth Liberal Party for the electorate of Corio for nine years, serving under Alfred Deakin, and was at the time the youngest member of the lower house. Crouch was a supporter of Deakin, and gained recognition as a wit and a radical. He was outspoken on the delicate matter of lavish allowances for the Governor General of Australia. Crouch enthusiastically supported new trends in Australian defence policies; however he opposed conscription. He served for another two years as a member of the Labor Party for the electorate of Corangamite, whilst James Scullin was in power. Upon his defeat, he decided to forsake politics for philanthropy, travel, writing, and encouraging Australians to take a greater interest in their history.

He was also the donor of the first six busts at Prime Ministers Avenue, and bequeathed funds for maintaining the project.

Crouch remained unmarried during his lifetime and in his later years lived with his sister Gertrude at Point Lonsdale, Victoria in the house their father had built in 1882.

Crouch died aged 80 on 7 April 1949, leaving an estate valued at 43,490 pounds and was buried at Point Lonsdale.

References

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
New seat
Member for Corio
1901 1910
Succeeded by
Alfred Ozanne
Preceded by
William Gibson
Member for Corangamite
1929 1931
Succeeded by
William Gibson
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