Charles Read (c. 1825 – 3 March 1910) was a tailor and politician in colonial Australia, a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.[1]
Read was born in Southampton, England, the son of James Read and Ann, nee Lye.[1] Read arrived in Geelong in October 1849 aboard the Tasman[2] and started business as a tailor.[1] He was involved in the Temperance Society, "with a striking personality, a vigorous platform speaker, he soon began to render splendid service to the organisation".[2] Read was elected as one of the three representatives for Geelong in the Victorian Legislative Assembly in 1856.[1] Read finished third in the field of seven.[2] He was deputy registrar of births etc. at Geelong from 1870 to 1884.[1]