Frank Smith (New South Wales politician)
Frank James Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Balmain | |
| In office 5 Feb 1887 – 6 June 1891 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1852 England |
| Died | 4 January 1910 (aged 57–58) Woolwich |
| Political party | Free Trade |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Thursdon (married c 1872) |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Parent(s) | Sarah Leicester Lewis Francis Smith |
Frank James Smith (1852 – 4 January 1910) was an English-born Australian politician.
Early life
[edit]His parents were land speculator Lewis Francis Smith and Sarah Leicester. He arrived in Victoria around 1867, and then spent some time in Hobart. He worked as a printer's apprentice in Victoria and then moved to Balmain in Sydney around 1877. He trained as a solicitor, however he never practised. Around 1872 he married Sarah Thursdon, with whom he had a daughter.[1]
Political career
[edit]In 1887 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as a Free Trade member for Balmain. He was re-elected in 1889, but was defeated in 1891.[2]
Criminal conviction
[edit]Smith was the managing director of the Australian Mercantile Loan and Guarantee Company from September 1889 until September 1890, and the company was placed into liquidation on 11 September 1891.[3] In February 1892 he was convicted of conspiracy to fraudulently misrepresent the financial affairs of the company,[4] and was sentenced to imprisonment for 7 years.[5] Peter Howe, another member of the Legislative Assembly, was also a director of the company. In 1891 Howe had been convicted of conspiracy to defraud the company and was also sentenced to imprisonment for 7 years.[6]
Smith was released from prison in June 1895 after serving 3 years.[7][8]
Later life
[edit]He attempted to return to politics, standing as an independent Free Trade candidate at the July 1895 election for Balmain North, but polled just 32 votes.[9]
Smith died at Woolwich on 4 January 1910 (aged 57–58).[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Mr Frank James Smith (1852-1910)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ Green, Antony. "Elections for the District of Balmain". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
- ^ "The Australian Mercantile Loan and Guarantee Company Limited". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 July 1892. p. 6. Retrieved 25 April 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "The conspiracy case". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 February 1892. p. 3. Retrieved 25 April 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "At the Central Criminal Court". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 February 1892. p. 9. Retrieved 25 April 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "The Howe-Miller conspiracy case". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 November 1891. p. 3. Retrieved 25 April 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Release of the bank panic prisoners". Sunday Times. 24 February 1895. p. 5. Retrieved 25 April 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Bank prisoners: the three released men". Evening News. 25 February 1895. p. 6. Retrieved 25 April 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ Green, Antony. "1895 Balmain North". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 8 April 2020.