Alfred John Stephenson Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Alfred Stephenson
Constituency Am1:Ipswich
Assembly1:Queensland Legislative
Term Start1:21 March 1896
Term End1:11 March 1902
Predecessor1:James Wilkinson
Successor1:James Blair
Alongside1:Thomas Cribb
Office2:Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
Term Start2:3 July 1914
Term End2:4 December 1914
Birth Date:15 November 1845
Birth Place:Pimlico, London, England
Death Place:Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Restingplace:Ipswich General Cemetery
Birthname:Alfred John Stevenson
Nationality:English Australian
Party:Ministerialist
Spouse:Jane Graham Tully (m.1867 d.1909), Charlotte Lee Smith, (née Haffner) (m.1914 d.1943)
Occupation:Printer, Newspaper proprietor

Alfred John Stephenson (1845–1914) was a politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and a Member of the Queensland Legislative Council.

Early life

Alfred John Stephenson was born on 15 November 1845 at Pimlico, London, England, the son of John Stephenson and his wife Martha.[1] He attended a Birkbeck school and then a private academy.[2]

At age 15, he left England and came to Ipswich, Queensland.

Career

Stephenson was apprenticed as printer on the North Australian newspaper published in Ipswich. In 1877 he became one of the proprietors of the Queensland Times.[1]

He served on various boards, trusts and committees including:

Politics

On 7 March 1894, John MacFarlane, one of the two Ministerialist members for Ipswich, died. Alfred Stephenson contested the resulting by-election on 31 March 1894 as a Ministerialist, but Australian Labour Party candidate James Wilkinson won.[2]

Alfred John Stephenson was elected in the electoral district of Ipswich on 21 March 1896 (the 1896 election) and served until 11 March 1902 when he was defeated in the 1902 election by lawyer James Blair.[1] [3] [4]

In June 1902, he was elected an alderman of the Ipswich City Council and served as mayor in 1907.[1]

On 3 July 1914 he was appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council. He served on the council for only a few months until his death.[3]

Later life

His wife Jane died at their home Chermside, Roderick Street, Ipswich on 29 March 1909.[5]

In May 1914, as District Grand Master of the English Freemasons, he travelled extensively through the northern parts of Queensland. While there, he contracted malaria after which his health progressively deteriorated.[6]

Despite his failing health, on 24 November 1914, he married Charlotte Lee Smith (née Haffner), the widow of George William Smith, of Sans Souci, Sydney.[7]

Alfred John Stephenson died on Friday 4 December 1914 at his home Chermside, Roderick Street, Ipswich.[1] His funeral service was held on Sunday 6 December 1915 at the Old Ipswich Town Hall followed by a large funeral procession to the Ipswich General Cemetery where he was buried with masonic rites.[6] [8] [9] As a mark of respect, the Queensland Legislative Council adjourned their sitting on that day.[10]

His second wife Charlotte died on 19 February 1943 at the home of her daughter in Homebush in Sydney. She was buried on 20 February 1943 in the Woronora Cemetery.[11]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stephenson, Alfred John. Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. 3 April 2015.
  2. News: HON. A. J. STEPHENSON, M.L.C. . . 4 December 1914 . 3 April 2015 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  3. 3 April 2015.
  4. 3 April 2015.
  5. News: Family Notices. . . Ipswich, Queensland . 30 March 1909 . 3 April 2015 . 4 Edition: DAILY . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: HON. A. J. STEPHENSON. . . Qld. . 5 December 1914 . 3 April 2015 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: Family Notices. . . Ipswich, Queensland . 28 November 1914 . 3 April 2015 . 4 Edition: Daily . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: LATE HON. A. J. STEPHENSON. . . Brisbane . 5 December 1914 . 23 April 2015 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  9. Web site: Ipswich General Cemetery: Congregational B Section. Australian Cemeteries. 3 April 2015.
  10. News: Legislative Council. . . 5 December 1914 . 3 April 2015 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: Family Notices. . . 20 February 1943 . 3 April 2015 . 16 . National Library of Australia.