Henry Turner (Queensland politician)

Henry Turner (10 November 1844 – 9 August 1932) was a member of both the member of both the Queensland Legislative Council and the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

The Hon Henry Turner
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Rockhampton North
In office 29 June 1901 – 17 October 1901
Preceded by	James Stewart
Succeeded by	John Linnett
In office 11 March 1902 – 18 May 1907
Preceded by	John Linnett
Succeeded by	James Brennan
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
In office 3 July 1907 – 23 March 1922
Personal details
Born	Henry Turner 10 November 1844 Aynho, Northamptonshire, England
Died	9 August 1932 (aged 87) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Toowong Cemetery
Nationality	English Australian
Political party	Kidstonites
Other political affiliations	Labor
Spouse(s)	Louisa Brown (d.1882)
Occupation	Meatworker

Early life

Turner was born in November 1844 at Aynho, Northamptonshire, England to Thomas Turner and his wife Leah (née Fathers).[1][2] He was apprenticed in a plant nursery and then worked as a gardener.[2] Upon arriving in Rockhampton in 1880, he worked at the local meatworks for many years where he began to take an active interest in the labour movement.[3]

Political career

Upon the resignation of James Stewart to stand for a senate seat in the 1901 federal election,[4] Turner, representing the Labour Party, contested the subsequent by-election in June of that year and defeated the Ministerial candidate, John Linnett.[5] The election outcome was successfully challenged in the courts by Linnett and he was declared duly elected.[6]

Turner once again won the seat at the 1902 state election[7]and in the 1904 state election and remained the sitting member till his resignation in May 1907.[2] Two months later, Premier William Kidston appointed Turner to the Legislative Council,[8] remaining there until the Labour members of the Council voted to abolish the Council in March 1922.[1]

Personal life

Turner married Louisa Langford Stevens in Middlesex in 1866.[9] The couple had 5 children.[1] His wife Louisa died on 11 February 1882 and was buried in North Rockhampton Cemetery.[10][11] He subsequently married Ida Martha Ridgewell (b. 29 March 1879; d. 1965) and they had two children, Gwendoline Ida (1911-1975) and Geoffrey Ridgewell (1918-1998).

Henry died in Brisbane in 1932 and was buried in Toowong Cemetery.[12]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
2. "HON. HENRY TURNER". The Brisbane Courier. LXIV (15, 437). Queensland, Australia. 4 July 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 31 October 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "Mr. H. Turner". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 10 August 1932. p. 14. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
4. 1901 Senate – Psephos. Retrieved 29 March.
5. "NORTH ROCKHAMPTON ELECTION". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 24 June 1901. p. 4. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
6. "ROCKHAMPTON NORTH ELECTION". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 15 October 1901. p. 5. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
7. "ROCKHAMPTON NORTH". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 12 March 1902. p. 6. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
8. "STATE GOVERNMENT". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 4 July 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
9. "FreeBMD - Search". www.freebmd.org.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
10. "Record details of Louisa Turner". www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
11. "Burial Indexes". www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
12. Turner Henry Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine – Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search. Retrieved 29 March 2015.