Thomas Williamson (Australian politician) explained

Thomas Michael Williamson (1853  - 16 December 1921) was an Australian politician.

He was born in Sydney to typesetter William Williamson and Anna Maria Annesley, and grandson of Michael Williamson who both served as mayors of Redfern. He attended Lyndhurst College, serving as an articled clerk in his uncle's law firm, Williamson & Williamson,[1] and was admitted as a solicitor in 1877.[2] He later became a partner in the firm.[3] On 8 October 1873 he married Annie McNamara, with whom he had seven children.

He was a candidate for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the district of Redfern at the 1882 election, winning a seat at the 1885 election.[4] He did not re-contest the seat in 1887.[5] He told a meeting of electors that this was due to medical advice,[6] while a biographical article in the Australian Town and Country Journal attributes his retirement to the pressures of business.[7] He was a Protectionist candidate at 1889 election, missing a seat by less than 100 votes.[5]

He served as an alderman of Redfern from 1882 to 1888 when he was elected Mayor, serving a one year term to February 1889.[8]

Williamson had moved to Rydalmere in 1886,[9] and in 1891 successfully organised a petition to divide the Borough of Dundas.[10] He was elected one of 6 aldermen on the resulting Borough of Ermington and Rydalmere, serving as mayor from 1891 until 1893.[3]

In 1894 he was struck off the roll of solicitors as he had misappropriated £776 from a client.[11] He unsuccessfully applied to be re-admitted in November 1896,[12] but was allowed to be employed as a solicitor's clerk.[13]

Some time after November 1896 he moved to Western Australia, where he was a commercial agent.[3] until his death in Perth in . The coroner found that Williamson had committed suicide by taking cyanide.[14]

References

 

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thomas Michael Williamson . Sydney's Aldermen . City of Sydney . 21 January 2021.
  2. News: Supreme Court: admission of attorneys . . 27 March 1877 . 21 January 2021 . 3 . Trove.
  3. Mr Thomas Michael Williamson (1853-1921) . Yes . 5 May 2019 . 965.
  4. News: Mr T M Williamson's meeting . . 9 October 1885 . 21 January 2021 . 5 . Trove.
  5. Elections for the District of Redfern . DistrictIndexes . Redfern . 2021-01-21.
  6. News: Redfern electorate: Mr. T.M. Williamson's meeting . . 29 January 1887 . 21 January 2021 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: Two mayors of New South Wales . . 7 July 1888 . 21 January 2021 . 29 . Trove.
  8. News: Borough of Redfern . . 107. 14 February 1888 . 8 July 2016 . 1258 . Trove.
  9. News: Banquet to Mr T M Williamson . . 31 December 1887 . 21 January 2021 . 18 . Trove.
  10. News: Petition for the division of the Borough of Dundas . . 107 . 13 February 1891 . 21 January 2021 . 1301 . Trove.
  11. News: Supreme Court: re Mr T M Williamson, ex parte Rebecca Glass . . 14 March 1894 . 21 January 2021 . 7 . Trove.
  12. News: Supreme Court: re Mr T M Williamson . . 14 November 1896 . 21 January 2021 . 7 . Trove.
  13. News: Supreme Court: es parte Thomas Michael Williamson . . 28 November 1896 . 21 January 2021 . 7 . Trove.
  14. News: Suicide: Death of Thomas Williamson . . 14 January 1922 . 21 January 2021 . 7 . Trove.