William Grahame (1841-1906)
Encyclopedia
William Grahame was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1889 until 1894 and a member of the Protectionist Party
.
Grahame was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and after a minimal education worked as a labourer. He migrated to Australia in 1858 and laboured on road work until he found employment as a tenant farmer and contractor. He eventually kept a jewellery shop in Newcastle and served as an alderman on Wickham
Municipal Council and as a member of the local water and sewage board. At the 1889 election, he was the third candidate on the Protectionist list and won the last position in the multi-member seat of Newcastle
. However, Grahame was forced to resign from parliament in October 1889 when he became insolvent and he was defeated by James Curley
at the subsequent by-election. He regained his seat in April 1891 at a by-election caused by the death of James Fletcher
. Grahame was defeated at the 1894 election. He did not hold ministerial or party 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...
from 1889 until 1894 and a member of the Protectionist Party
Protectionist Party
The Protectionist Party was an Australian political party, formally organised from 1889 until 1909, with policies centred on protectionism. It argued that Australia needed protective tariffs to allow Australian industry to grow and provide employment. It had its greatest strength in Victoria and in...
.
Grahame was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and after a minimal education worked as a labourer. He migrated to Australia in 1858 and laboured on road work until he found employment as a tenant farmer and contractor. He eventually kept a jewellery shop in Newcastle and served as an alderman on Wickham
Wickham, New South Wales
Wickham is an inner suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district.-Origin:Wickham which was a Misspelling of Whickham, a suburb of Newcastle-on-Tyne in the north of England. Means village by the creek...
Municipal Council and as a member of the local water and sewage board. At the 1889 election, he was the third candidate on the Protectionist list and won the last position in the multi-member seat of Newcastle
Electoral district of Newcastle
Newcastle is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales named after and including Newcastle. It is represented by Tim Owen of the Liberal Party of Australia.-History:...
. However, Grahame was forced to resign from parliament in October 1889 when he became insolvent and he was defeated by James Curley
James Curley (Australian politician)
James Curley was an Australian politician.He was elected as the member for Newcastle in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly at a by-election in 1889. He remained in office for less than two years.-References:...
at the subsequent by-election. He regained his seat in April 1891 at a by-election caused by the death of James Fletcher
James Fletcher (Australian politician)
James Fletcher was an Australian coalminer and owner, newspaper proprietor and politician.Fletcher was born in Dalkeith, East Lothian, Scotland and migrated to Australia in February 1851, first working in the goldfields and later in the Newcastle area as a coalminer. He married Isabella Birrell...
. Grahame was defeated at the 1894 election. He did not hold ministerial or party office.