William Edward Thurlow (1815−15 January 1873) was a politician and solicitor in colonial New South Wales.

Thurlow was born in around 1815 and emigrated to Sydney aged 9–10 years with his father, also called William Thurlow, and two of his brothers, arriving on 3 August 1825. The journey from London on board the William Shand had taken 144 days, via St Jago and Hobart.[1][2] On 3 May 1837 he married Anne Jane James.[3][4] He was admitted as a solicitor in September 1837, having worked for William Wentworth and completed his articles with Charles Henry Chambers.[5]

He was elected a member of Sydney City Council on 7 October 1843 for the Bourke Ward,[6] a position he would hold until October 1853 when the council was abolished due to incompetence and corruption.[3] He was elected as Mayor on 21 January 1851 serving until his resignation in December 1852.[7][8] He was elected to a further term as a councilor from 1 December 1857, serving until 30 November 1859.[3]

In March 1853 was the successful candidate at the by-election for a City of Sydney seat in the New South Wales Legislative Council, with 1,249 votes (69.4%) defeating the young radical Henry Parkes.[9][10] He served for less than two years, resigning in January 1855.[11]

Thurlow died at Cundletown on 15 January 1873, aged 58 years.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ "by the William Shand". Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen's Land Advertiser. 8 July 1825. p. 2. Retrieved 18 October 2022 – via Trove.
  2. ^ "Shipping Intelligence". The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. 4 August 1825. p. 2. Retrieved 18 October 2022 – via Trove.
  3. ^ a b c "Thurlow, William". Dictionary of Sydney. Dictionary of Sydney Trust. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. 6 May 1837. p. 3. Retrieved 18 October 2022 – via Trove.
  5. ^ "Supreme Court (civil side)". The Australian. 26 September 1837. p. 2. Retrieved 18 October 2022 – via Trove.
  6. ^ "Annual election of councillors for the City of Sydney". New South Wales Government Gazette. 7 November 1843. p. 1468. Retrieved 18 October 2022 – via Trove.
  7. ^ McCormack, Terri (2010). "Thurlow, William". Dictionary of Sydney. Dictionary of Sydney Trust. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Election of Mayor". New South Wales Government Gazette. 21 December 1852. p. 1845. Retrieved 18 October 2022 – via Trove.
  9. ^ "City election: declaration of the poll". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 March 1853. p. 4. Retrieved 24 April 2019 – via Trove.
  10. ^ "To William Thurlow, esq alderman". The People's Advocate and New South Wales Vindicator. 5 March 1853. p. 14. Retrieved 18 October 2022 – via Trove.
  11. ^ "Mr William Edward Thurlow". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 January 1873. p. 1. Retrieved 18 October 2022 – via Trove.
  13. ^ "Deaths". The Argus. 12 February 1873. p. 4. Retrieved 18 October 2022 – via Trove.

 

New South Wales Legislative Council Preceded byJohn Lamb Member for City of Sydney Mar 1853 – Jan 1855 With: William Wentworth / Henry ParkesRobert Campbell Succeeded byJames Robert Wilshire Civic offices Preceded byGeorge Hill Mayor of Sydney 1851–1852 Succeeded byDaniel Egan


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