Richard Stevenson (Australian politician)

Richard Stevenson (1832 – 14 May 1899) was an English-born Australian politician.

Early life

He was born at Egham in Surrey, and after working in a printing house arrived in New South Wales in 1851, where he joined the Sydney Morning Herald, working there until 1857 when he left to work on the goldfields at Hanging Rock and Rocky River.[1] 18 months later he returned to Herald, leaving again in 1861 when he purchased the Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser for £600.[2] On 8 October 1862 he married Louise Whitehouse at Grafton,[3] they had no children.[4] He published the paper until 1875 when he sold it for £3,000 due to ill health.[2][5]

Political career

Stevenson stood unsuccessfully for Grafton at the 1880 election and The Clarence at the 1882 and 1885 elections.[6] He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the member for Wollombi at the by-election in 1886. With the emergence of political parties in 1887, he joined the Free Trade Party, but changed to the Protectionist Party in 1889. Wollombi was abolished in 1894 and he successfully contested Northumberland. He was defeated in 1895 but elected again in 1898.[6]

Stevenson died at Putty on 14 May 1899(1899-05-14) (aged 66–67).[4]

References

  1. ^ "Mr Richard Stevenson". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. 7 May 1887. p. 946. Retrieved 17 May 2021 – via Trove.
  2. ^ a b "Mr Richard Stevenson". The Daily Telegraph. 28 July 1894. p. 5. Retrieved 17 May 2021 – via Trove.
  3. ^ "Marriage". Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser. 14 October 1862. p. 2. Retrieved 17 May 2021 – via Trove.
  4. ^ a b "Mr Richard Stevenson (1832-1899)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  5. ^ "The Clarence and Richmond Examiner". The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. 13 April 1875. p. 3. Retrieved 17 May 2021 – via Trove.
  6. ^ a b Green, Antony. "Index to Candidates: Stein to Sylvester". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 17 May 2021.

 

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Wollombi
1886–1894 		Abolished
Preceded by Member for Northumberland
1894–1895 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member for Northumberland
1898–1899 		Succeeded by