Francis Clarke MP

Francis Clarke

Francis Clarke is probably the most illustrious of the members of this branch. He was the great grandfather of the author of this site and the son of Thomas Clarke. Born in 1857 at Mill Creek on the mid-north coast of New South Wales and educated at St Stanislaus boarding school in Bathurst. He trained as a surveyor under a Mr Scott and passed his exams in 1883. He was a pioneer in the Northern Territory, the vast unexplored central northern part of the continent. Conditions were extremely primitive with camels driven by Afghans being the main form of communication.

Later, in the 1880's, Francis Clarke ventured into politics becoming the mayor of North Sydney. He also became the member in the NSW Colonial parliament for the seat of Hastings-Macleay that encompassed the area around Kempsey where his family came from. He was elected several times, including unopposed election on some occasions.

His role in Australia's Federation movement is largely unsung. Edmund Barton (shown above), a leading Federalist could not obtain a seat in parliament to serve as a platform to participate in the Constitutional conferences that took place in the late 1890's. Francis Clarke stood down from his safe seat to offer this to Barton. The rest is history. Australia became a new nation in 1901 and Edmund Barton was the first prime minister. Naturally, Francis was at the opening of the First Parliament in 1901 in Melbourne. He took his daughter, Beatrix (Trix) along with him. He became the government Whip in 1903.

Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia by H.R.H. The Duke of Cornwall and York (Later King George V), 9 May, 1901

1901

COWPER, NSW 12,802 enrolled, 8,632 (67.4%) voted

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North Coast NSW: Bellingen, Grafton, Kempsey, Taree

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Francis CLARKE Prot 3,267 38.3

Ralph Davidson FT 2,866 33.6

Hugh McKinnon 2,387 28.0

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112 (01.3%) informal 8,520 02.4

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McKinnon was NSW MLA for The Hastings and Manning 1891-94. He was an

independent protectionist candidate.

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Francis Clarke was a member of the first parliament as member for Cowper (shown below, which encompassed the Hastings-Macleay area).

He lost the seat at the second Federal election.

1903

COWPER, NSW 25,568 enrolled, 12,168 (47.6%) voted

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North Coast NSW: Bellingen, Grafton, Kempsey, Taree

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1901 majority: Protectionist over Free Trade 02.4

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Francis Clarke * Prot 4,384 37.0 (-01.3)

Henry LEE FT 7,456 63.0 (+29.4)

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328 (02.6%) informal 11,840 13.0

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There was a swing of 15.4% from Protectionist to Free Trade.

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Henry William Lee (1856-1927): Elected 1903

Born: 1856, Gerringong, NSW.

Career: Dairy farmer Hunter Valley, later dairying expert and leader

of dairying industry.

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On the 12th of December 1904, he was appointed to the Royal Commission on Tariffs which lasted until 31st of January 1907.

In 1913, he was appointed Chairman of the Royal Commission into possible Ports and Railways of the Northern Territory. He proceeded to Darwin on the 21st of May 1913, but was ordered to return on the 30th of October to hand in his report.

In 1914, he opened an office in Sydney to practice as a private surveyor and went to Forbes. He returned to Darwin for private survey work but became ill with berri-berri and returned to Sydney. In 1915, he moved to the Moree district and continued his line of work for eleven years. He eventually became the professional member of the survey staff of the Main Roads Board and retired in 1929. The photo below was taken in the early 1930s.

Francis Clarke died on the 18th of April 1939.

Click here for GEDCOM files on the Clarke family