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Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia

Richard Robson

Parliamentary Service

House

MLA

Party

Opposition

Date Elected

12 July 1899

Electorate

Geraldton

Service

Electorates

MLA Geraldton 12 July 1899 (by-election)–13 June 1900 (resigned) following rejection by Select Committee of his charges of corruption against Forrest Ministry

Private Member's Bills

Year Retired/Resigned

1900

Personal Information

Birth date

15 March 1867

Place of birth

Tynemouth, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom

Death date

30 November 1928

Cause of death

Place of death

At sea en route from Liverpool to Australia

Cemetery

Arrived in WA

Travelled to Australia 1887

Parents

Son of John Stephenson, upholsterer, and Mary Young

Marriage and Family

Married 30 April 1895, Christ Church, Geraldton to Clara Hannah Elizabeth Hosken (born circa 1872 and died 18 February 1941), daughter of William and Amy Hale
Children: two sons and three daughters

Religion

Church of England

Education

Mill Hill School, London, 1880–1882

Occupation

Businessperson and cabinetmaker

Employment History

Jackaroo, Annean Station in Murchison until after 1890
By 1895 in business at Geraldton as commission and mining agent, and in transport
Captain, Boer War, circa 1900, took first Australian contingent of mounted infantry
After end of war, stayed in South Africa as Commandant of South African Constabulary in Standarton district
Removal contractor and cabinet maker with brother, 1907

Local Government

Principal Honours

Queen’s medal (three bars)

Background/Membership

Vice president, Geraldton Chamber of Commerce, 1898
Justice of Peace for Bethel district, 1901–1907
Returned to Newcastle, England, 1907
Director, Robson and Sons Ltd, cabinet makers and upholsterers of Newcastle and of Laidler, Robsons Ltd of Holmeside, Sunderland
Travelled during winters
Member, Newcastle Society of Antiquaries and Natural History Society
Founder and past president, North East Furnishing Employers’ Federation

References

D Black and G Bolton, eds, Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia: volume one 1870-1930, Parliamentary History Project, Perth, WA, 2010, p. 172.
Metropolitan Cemeteries Board website. Accessed online 12 July 2022. (wife's record) https://portal.mcb.wa.gov.au/name-search/ns-detail/?id=55b2fcc2-de1c-ec11-b6e7-00224814c0bd

Bibliography

Further Information