Henry Llewelyn Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Hon
Henry Llewelyn
Office2:Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
Term Start2:10 October 1917
Term End2:23 March 1922
Birth Date:12 September 1855
Birth Place:Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Death Place:Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Restingplace:Toowong Cemetery
Birthname:Henry Llewelyn
Nationality:Welsh Australian
Party:Labor
Spouse:Eleanor Davies (d.1874 d.1891), Mary Ann McNamee (m.1895 d.1936)
Occupation:Trade union representative
Relations:Evan Llewelyn (son)

Henry Llewelyn (12 September 1855 – 6 August 1933) was a member the Queensland Legislative Council.[1]

Llewelyn was born at Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, to Henry Llewelyn and his wife Elizabeth. He arrived in Australia in 1885 and headed to Gympie to work as a gold miner.[2] In later years he opened a bookshop and stationer which he ran for 34 years.[2]

Political career

When the Labour Party starting forming governments in Queensland, it found much of its legislation being blocked by a hostile Council, where members had been appointed for life by successive conservative governments. After a failed referendum in May 1917,[3] Premier Ryan tried a new tactic, and later that year advised the Governor, Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, to appoint thirteen new members whose allegiance lay with Labour to the Council.[4]

Llewelyn was one of the thirteen new members, and went on to serve for four and a half years until the Council was abolished in March, 1922.[1]

Personal life

Llewelyn was twice married, firstly to Eleanor Davies at Wales in 1874.[1] Eleanor died in 1891[5] and he then married Mary Ann McNamee (died 1936)[5] at Gympie in 1895.[1] His marriages resulted in twelve children,[1] including Evan Llewelyn who went on to be the Labor member for the state seat of Toowoomba.[2]

He died in Brisbane in August 1933[2] and was buried at Toowong Cemetery.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former Members. Parliament of Queensland. 2015. 11 April 2015.
  2. News: Mr. Henry Llewelyn. . . 7 August 1933 . 11 April 2015 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: TWO HOUSES, NOT ONE. . . 7 May 1917 . 11 April 2015 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  4. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/goold-adams-sir-hamilton-john-6425 Goold-Adams, Sir Hamilton John (1858–1920)
  5. https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/family-history-research/ Family history research
  6. https://online.brisbane.qld.gov.au/cemeteries/cemeteries_step3.jsp?mapdisplay=148278 Llewelyn Henry