Robert Abbott | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Palmer Abbott 1830 (1830) Broadford, County Clare, Ireland |
| Died | 31 October 1901(1901-10-31) (aged 70–71) |
| Occupation | politician |
Robert Palmer Abbott (1830 – 31 October 1901) was a politician and solicitor incolonial New South Wales, a member of both theLegislative Assembly andLegislative Council.
Abbott was born inBroadford, County Clare in Ireland, and emigrated to Sydney as a boy with his parents, Eleanor, née Kingsmill and Thomas Abbott, policeman, arriving in the colony in 1838.[1]
He was admitted a solicitor in 1854,[2] subsequently specialising in litigation concerning theRobertson Land Acts, and had opened an office inTamworth.[1]
Abbott ran unsuccessfully for a seat in theLegislative Assembly at the1869 election forTenterfield,[3] and the1871 New England by-election,[4] before winning the1872 election for Tenterfield, serving as the member for Tenterfield until his defeat at the1877 election.[3] He wasSecretary for Mines in thefirst ministry ofHenry Parkes from 27 July 1874 until 8 February 1875,[5] and wasMayor of East St Leonards from February 1878 until February 1879.[6]
He returned to the Assembly as the member forHartley at the1880 election.[7] He was nominated to theLegislative Council in 1885, and sat till 1 March 1888, when he resigned, owing to his objection to certain appointments.[2] He was a member of the New South Wales Commission in London for theColonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886.[5]
He assisted his cousin,Joseph Abbott, be elected at the1888 Newtown by-election,[1][8] while his nephew,Sir Joseph Palmer Abbott, served in the Legislative Assembly for 21 years, including 10 years asSpeaker.[9]
Abbott never married and died atTempe on 31 October 1901(1901-10-31) (aged 70–71).[1]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Secretary for Mines July 1874 – February 1875 | Succeeded by |
| New South Wales Legislative Assembly | ||
| Preceded by | Member forTenterfield 1872 – 1877 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member forHartley 1880 – 1882 | Succeeded by |
| Civic offices | ||
| Preceded by James Taylor | Mayor of East St Leonards 1878 – 1879 | Succeeded by George Matcham Pitt |
