George Burns (Queensland politician) explained

George Burns
Constituency Am1:Townsville
Assembly1:Queensland Legislative
Term Start1:6 May 1893
Term End1:5 Nov 1893
Predecessor1:William Villiers Brown
Successor1:Anthony Ogden
Alongside1:Robert Philp
Birth Date:1845
Birth Place:Edinburgh, Scotland
Death Date:5 November 1893 (aged 48)
Death Place:Keppel Bay, Queensland, Australia
Restingplace:West End Cemetery
Birthname:George Robertson Burns
Spouse:Grace Clow (d.1926)
Party:Ministerial
Occupation:Engineer

George Robertson Burns (1847 – 5 November 1893) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

Biography

Burns was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of Graham Burns and his wife Jessie (née McGregor) and was educated in Edinburgh public schools and the Ayr Academy. By 1862 he was apprenticed as an engineer in Glasgow before travelling to Peru and working as an engineer for Randolph, Elder & Company and McOnie's machinery. He then travelled to the United States of America before arriving in Queensland in 1875 and employed as an engineer at Hambledon's plantation in Cairns. He then leased the Townsville Foundry and in 1888 purchased the new Ross Creek Works of the Townsville Foundry and Shipping Company.[1]

He was married to Grace Clow (died 1926)[2] and together had four children.[1] Burns died at Keppel Bay aboard the SS Airlie in November 1893[1] and was buried in Townsville's West End Cemetery.[3]

Public career

Burns won the junior position in the two-member seat of Townsville for the Ministerialists at the 1893 Queensland colonial election.[4] He was on his way home to Townsville from Brisbane when he died six months later.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former Members. Parliament of Queensland. 2015. 13 June 2016.
  2. https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/family-history-research/ Family history research
  3. https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/8391/West-End-Cemetery-Records.pdf BURNS George Robinson
  4. News: GENERAL ELECTION. . . XLIX . 11,018 . Queensland, Australia . 8 May 1893 . 13 June 2016 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: The Death of Mr. G. R. Bur[?] M.L.A. ]. . III . [?] . Queensland, Australia . 8 November 1893 . 13 June 2016 . 10 . National Library of Australia.