Benjamin Cribb
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Cribb was an Australian businessman and politician. He was an unaligned member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for one term in 1858-9 and a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
in 1861-7 and again in 1870-3.
, Dorset
, England
; the second son of a master mariner who was killed during the Napoleonic Wars. He was educated at his mother's Dame school
and apprenticed to a merchant. By 1832 Benjamin and his brother Robert , who was also a member of both the New South Wales and Queensland Parliaments, had established baking and retail businesses in London. Influenced by John Dunmore Lang
's description of the opportunities available in Australia, they migrated to Moreton Bay
in 1849. After arriving in the colony, Benjamin established a retail business in Ipswich
which developed into the the Foote & Cribb department store. During the American Civil War he encouraged the growth and export of Australian cotton. He was married twice and two of his sons James and Thomas also served in the Queensland Parliament
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
at the 1858 election. He was a strong supporter of the separation of the colony of Queensland and opposed the use of convicts, coolies or Kanaks as cheap labour. He was defeated at the 1859 election but after the foundation of Queensland, he was elected to its Legislative Assembly
representing West Moreton
between 1861 and 1867 and Ipswich
between 1870 and 1873. He did not hold ministerial of parliamentary office.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
for one term in 1858-9 and a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
in 1861-7 and again in 1870-3.
Early life
Cribb was born in PoolePoole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; the second son of a master mariner who was killed during the Napoleonic Wars. He was educated at his mother's Dame school
Dame school
A Dame School was an early form of a private elementary school in English-speaking countries. They were usually taught by women and were often located in the home of the teacher.- Britain :...
and apprenticed to a merchant. By 1832 Benjamin and his brother Robert , who was also a member of both the New South Wales and Queensland Parliaments, had established baking and retail businesses in London. Influenced by John Dunmore Lang
John Dunmore Lang
John Dunmore Lang , Australian Presbyterian clergyman, writer, politician and activist, was the first prominent advocate of an independent Australian nation and of Australian republicanism.-Background and Family:...
's description of the opportunities available in Australia, they migrated to Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
in 1849. After arriving in the colony, Benjamin established a retail business in Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
which developed into the the Foote & Cribb department store. During the American Civil War he encouraged the growth and export of Australian cotton. He was married twice and two of his sons James and Thomas also served in the Queensland Parliament
Parliament
Cribb was elected to represent Stanley BoroughsElectoral district of Stanley Boroughs
Stanley Boroughs was a former electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales created in 1856 election, named after the County of Stanley and including the towns of North Brisbane, South Brisbane, Kangaroo Point and Ipswich. The surrounding rural parts of...
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
at the 1858 election. He was a strong supporter of the separation of the colony of Queensland and opposed the use of convicts, coolies or Kanaks as cheap labour. He was defeated at the 1859 election but after the foundation of Queensland, he was elected to its Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
representing West Moreton
Electoral district of West Moreton
Electoral district of West Moreton may refer to:* Electoral district of West Moreton , a former electorate of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly....
between 1861 and 1867 and Ipswich
Electoral district of Ipswich
The district of Ipswich is a Queensland Legislative Assembly electoral district on the Brisbane River, west of Brisbane in the Australian state of Queensland...
between 1870 and 1873. He did not hold ministerial of parliamentary office.