Thomas Hungerford (Australian politician)

Thomas Hungerford

Thomas Hungerford (6 September 1823 – 4 May 1904) was a pioneer pastoralist and politician in Australia. He was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.^[1]

Early life

Thomas Hungerford was born near Cork to Captain Emanuel Hungerford and Catherine Loan(e). The family migrated to New South Wales in 1828, and his father settled on the Hunter River. Hungerford became a pastoralist, owning property near Walgett and inheriting his father's Hunter property in 1852. On 19 June 1852 he married Emma Hollingsworth Wood, with whome he had nine children; a second marriage to Catherine Mary Mallon produced six children.

Politics

In 1875 he was elected in a by-election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Upper Hunter, but he was defeated later that year. He was elected to Northumberland in 1877, but he resigned in 1880. He returned in an 1882 by-election, but was then defeated at the general election in 1882. In 1885 he was elected again for Upper Hunter, but he was defeated for a final time in 1887, although he continued to contest elections until 1894.

Later life

Hungerford was ruined by the 1890s depression, and by 1900 had lost all his property. He died at Ashfield in 1904.^[2]

Legacy

The town of Hungerford, Queensland was named after him.^[3]

References

1. Ellis, Ian. "Hungerford, Thomas (1823–1904)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre for Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
2. "Mr Thomas Hungerford (1823 - 1904)". Former Members. Parliament of New South Wales. 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
3. "Hungerford". Bulloo Shire Council. Retrieved 26 October 2014.