Francis Grayson Explained

Francis Grayson
Honorific-Suffix:
Constituency Am1:Cunningham
Assembly1:Queensland Legislative
Term Start1:27 August 1904
Term End1:9 October 1920
Predecessor1:Duncan Watson
Successor1:William Deacon
Birth Date:2 September 1849
Birth Place:Lurgan, County Armagh, Ireland
Death Place:Warwick, Queensland, Australia
Restingplace:Warwick General Cemetery
Birthname:Francis Grayson
Nationality:Irish Australian
Party:Independent
Otherparty:Ministerial, Kidstonites, Opposition, Liberals, National
Spouse:Jane Bell (m.1872 d.1930)
Occupation:Shopkeeper

Francis Grayson (2 September 1849 – 27 July 1927) was a shopkeeper and member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

Biography

Grayson was born at Lurgan, County Armagh, to parents John Grayson and his wife Jane (née Irwin) and educated at the Church of England School in Lurgan.[1] He left Ireland at age fourteen to come to Australia, arriving in Brisbane in 1864. Almost immediately he set out for the Darling Downs and began work at Glengallan Station which at the time was owned by the Deuchar family.[2]

In 1870 he took up a selection of his own and named it Silverwood. After five years there he moved to Warwick where he opened a general and produce store which successfully operated for the next 27 years.[2]

In 1872, Grayson married Jane Bell[3] and together had two sons and four daughters. He died in 1927[1] after suffering a short illness[2] and was buried in the Warwick General Cemetery.[4]

Political career

Grayson became an alderman on the Warwick Town Council in 1879 and, except for a three-year break was on the council until 1905. He was Mayor on three occasions - 1892, 1896, and 1904.[2] [5]

At the 1904 state elections, standing as a Ministerialist, Grayson defeated the sitting member, Duncan Watson for the seat of Cunningham in the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[6] He was later a member of successive parties the Kidstonites, the Liberals, the National Party, and ended up as an Independent. He retired from his seat at the 1920 state elections.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former Members. Parliament of Queensland. 2015. 14 March 2016.
  2. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/175663423/20641059 Mr. Francis Grayson
  3. https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/family-history-research/ Family history research
  4. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/175663398/20641059 Funeral Notice
  5. News: 1847-- --1936. 22 June 1936. The Telegraph. 19 October 2017. Queensland, Australia. 20 (CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS). National Library of Australia.
  6. http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/19298501/1548130 Cunningham (1)