Alfred Cowley Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Sir Alfred Cowley
Office1:Speaker of the Queensland Parliament
Term Start1:25 May 1893
Term End1:15 February 1899
Predecessor1:Albert Norton
Successor1:Arthur Morgan
Constituency1:Herbert
Term Start2:17 September 1903
Term End2:11 April 1907
Predecessor2:Arthur Morgan
Successor2:John Leahy
Constituency2:Herbert
Constituency Am3:Herbert
Assembly3:Queensland Legislative
Term Start3:12 May 1888
Term End3:18 May 1907
Predecessor3:New seat
Successor3:William Lennon
Birth Date:24 April 1848
Birth Place:Fairford, Gloucestershire, England
Death Place:Brisbane, Queensland
Restingplace:Toowong Cemetery
Nationality:English
Party:Ministerialist
Spouse:Marie Campbell
Occupation:Company director, Sugarcane farmer

Sir Alfred Sandlings Cowley (24 April 1848  - 1 December 1926) was a politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.

Early life

Cowley was born in Fairford, Gloucestershire, England, the son of Isaac Cowley and Charlotte his wife. When still a boy he accompanied his parents to Natal, South Africa. He served an apprenticeship to the building and engineering trade, making the erection of sugar machinery a specialty; but he subsequently became an agriculturist, and was for three years engaged in cultivating sugar and coffee. Early in 1871 Cowley left Natal for the Australian colonies, and was a resident of New South Wales for over two years, part of which time he was in charge of a central sugar-mill on the Macleay River.

Cowley resided in the Maryborough district of Queensland for three years, during which time he was engaged in the cultivation and manufacture of sugar. After that Cowley settled in the Lower Herbert district, and was actively employed in the sugar industry.

Cowley was married at Pietermaritzburg, Natal, on 24 July 1880, to Miss Marie Campbell.

Politics

Cowley was a member of the Hinchinbrook Divisional Board and was its chairman from 1883 to 1886.[1]

Cowley was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in the electoral district of Herbert on 12 May 1888, and on the formation of the Griffith - McIlwraith Government in August 1890 was appointed Secretary for Public Lands and Agriculture, and sworn of the Executive Council. He served as Speaker from 1893 to 1899 and from 1903 to 1907. He was knighted in 1904.[2] His parliamentary service ended on 18 May 1907 when he was defeated in the 1907 election.[3]

Later life

Cowley died on 1 December 1926 at his residence Silky Oaks in Cross Street, Toowong, Brisbane and was buried on 2 December in the Toowong Cemetery.[4] [5] [6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: List of Chairmen and Council Members. Hinchinbrook Shire Council.
  2. Book: Shaw . Wm. A. . The Knights of England: A Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of All the Orders of Chivalry in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and of the Knights Bachelors . 1971 . Genealogical Publishing Company . Baltimore . 2. 420 . 247620448.
  3. Web site: Cowley, Sir Alfred Sandlings. Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. 18 June 2014.
  4. News: SIR ALFRED COWLEY. . . 2 December 1926 . 20 June 2014 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Family Notices. . . 7 December 1926 . 20 June 2014 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
  6. Web site: Brisbane City Council – Online – Grave Location Search. Brisbane City Council. 22 October 2011. https://archive.today/20121209061155/https://online.brisbane.qld.gov.au/cemeteries/cemeteries_step3.jsp?mapdisplay=192638. 9 December 2012. dead. dmy-all.