Robert Abbott
Born
Robert Palmer Abbott

1830 (1830)
Broadford, County Clare, Ireland
Died31 October 1901(1901-10-31) (aged 70–71)
Tempe
NationalityAustralian
Occupationpolitician

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]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Nairn, Bede. "Abbott, Robert Palmer (1830–1901)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b Mennell, Philip (1892). "Abbott, Robert Palmer" . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
  3. ^ a b Green, Antony. "Elections for the District of Tenterfield". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  4. ^ Green, Antony. "1971 New England by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Mr Robert Palmer Abbott (1830-1901)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Borough of East St Leonards". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 60. 19 February 1878. p. 780. Retrieved 10 April 2019 – via Trove.
  7. ^ Green, Antony. "Elections for the District of Hartley". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Mr Joseph Abbott (1843-1903)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Sir Joseph Palmer Abbott (1842-1901)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 April 2019.

 

Political offices Preceded byJames Farnell Secretary for Mines July 1874 – February 1875 Succeeded byJohn Lucas New South Wales Legislative Assembly Preceded byColin Fraser Member for Tenterfield 1872 – 1877 Succeeded byJohn Dillon Preceded byJohn Hurley Member for Hartley 1880 – 1882 Succeeded byWalter Targett Civic offices Preceded byJames Taylor Mayor of East St Leonards 1878 – 1879 Succeeded byGeorge Matcham Pitt
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