Richard Jones (1816–1892)
Encyclopedia
Richard Jones was an Australian journalist, company director and politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
between 1856 and 1860 and was the Colonial Treasurer for 119 days.
, a fellow liberal. In 1843 he established the Maitland Mercury
, which soon became one of the colony's leading newspapers. Jones was involved in numerous public organizations in the Maitland
region including the anti-transportation league, Lower Hunter Agricultural Society and Maitland School of Arts.
Jones returned to Sydney in 1855 and after retiring from politics became the chairman of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney
. He was also a director of numerous other colonial companies including the Australian Gas Light Company
.
. He retained the seat until it was abolished at the 1859 election. He then represented the new seat of Hunter
until his retirement from politics in 1860. He was an active member of the Assembly and was a member of numerous committees. He contributed significantly to the passage of reforms to the electoral act which allowed for a wide male franchise.
. The Governor, Sir William Denison
, called on Jones to form a government when the premiership of William Forster collapsed in March 1860. However, Jones doubted his support in the assembly and recommended that the Governor give his commission to John Robertson. He retired from politics during the next month.
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...
between 1856 and 1860 and was the Colonial Treasurer for 119 days.
Early life
Jones was the son of a Liverpool innkeeper but he was orphaned at a young age. He was educated in free schools and became an apprentice printer at age 15. Due to indifferent health, Jones emigrated to Sydney in 1838 and worked as a compositor. At this time he became interested in colonial politics and formed a friendship with Henry ParkesHenry Parkes
Sir Henry Parkes, GCMG was an Australian statesman, the "Father of Federation." As the earliest advocate of a Federal Council of the colonies of Australia, a precursor to the Federation of Australia, he was the most prominent of the Australian Founding Fathers.Parkes was described during his...
, a fellow liberal. In 1843 he established the Maitland Mercury
Maitland Mercury
The Maitland Mercury is Australia's oldest regional newspaper. It was originally a weekly newspaper, with the first issue published on 7 January 1843. The Mercury is still in circulation serving the city of Maitland and the surrounding Lower Hunter Valley.Even when it was first published the...
, which soon became one of the colony's leading newspapers. Jones was involved in numerous public organizations in the Maitland
Maitland, New South Wales
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...
region including the anti-transportation league, Lower Hunter Agricultural Society and Maitland School of Arts.
Jones returned to Sydney in 1855 and after retiring from politics became the chairman of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney
National Australia Bank
National Australia Bank is one of the four largest financial institutions in Australia in terms of market capitalisation and customers. NAB is ranked 17th largest bank in the world measured by market capitalisation...
. He was also a director of numerous other colonial companies including the Australian Gas Light Company
Australian Gas Light Company
The Australian Gas Light Company was an Australian gas and electricity retailer. It was formed in Sydney in 1837, and supplied town gas for the first public lighting of a street lamp in Sydney in 1841 AGL was the second company to list on the Australian Stock Exchange. The company gradually...
.
State Parliament
Jones was unsuccessful in one attempt to enter the Legislative Council prior to the establishment of responsible self-government in 1856. However, at the first election under the new constitution he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as one of the three members for DurhamElectoral district of Durham
Durham was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, named after Durham County, which lies on the north side of the Hunter River. From 1856 to 1859, it elected three members simultaneously by voters casting three votes with the three leading...
. He retained the seat until it was abolished at the 1859 election. He then represented the new seat of Hunter
Electoral district of Hunter
Hunter was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales created in 1859 and partly replacing Durham on the Hunter River. It was abolished in 1894.-Members for Hunter:...
until his retirement from politics in 1860. He was an active member of the Assembly and was a member of numerous committees. He contributed significantly to the passage of reforms to the electoral act which allowed for a wide male franchise.
Government
Jones was New South Wales' Colonial Treasurer for 119 days during the term of the second government of Charles CowperCharles Cowper
Sir Charles Cowper, KCMG was an Australian politician and the Premier of New South Wales on five different occasions from 1856 to 1870....
. The Governor, Sir William Denison
William Denison
Sir William Thomas Denison, KCB was Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land from 1847 to 1855, Governor of New South Wales from 20 January 1855 to 22 January 1861, and Governor of Madras from 1861 to 1866....
, called on Jones to form a government when the premiership of William Forster collapsed in March 1860. However, Jones doubted his support in the assembly and recommended that the Governor give his commission to John Robertson. He retired from politics during the next month.