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DeutschWilliam Russell (Australian politician)
William Russell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senator for South Australia | |
| In office 1 January 1907 – 28 June 1912 | |
| Succeeded by | John Shannon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 October 1842 Glassford, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Died | 28 June 1912 (aged 69) Tumby Bay, South Australia |
| Nationality | Scottish Australian |
| Political party | Labor |
| Occupation | Solicitor |
William Russell (20 October 1842 – 28 June 1912) was a Scottish-born Australian politician. He was a liberal member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1895 to 1900 and an Australian Labor Party member of the South Australian House of Assembly (Burra) (1901-1902) and the Australian Senate (1906-1912).[1]
Russell was born in Glassford, Scotland, where he became a farm worker. In 1886, he migrated to South Australia, spending three years working on a farm at Alma Plains and three years as a selector at Gulnare Plains before establishing a larger property near Caltowie. He later farmed at Belton in the state's north, where better seasons saw him achieve more success than drought-affected predecessors, and finally near Belalie before retiring from farming in 1900. He was a District Council of Caltowie councillor for five years and a District Council of Carrieton councillor for three years, serving a term as Carrieton chairman.[2][3] He was a member of the South Australian Farmers Union for many years and served a term as vice-president.[4][5]
Russell was elected to the Legislative Council as a liberal for the North-Eastern District at the 1894 election.[6][7] He supported women's suffrage, adult suffrage for the House of Assembly and an increased franchise for the Legislative Council.[2] He was a member of a Taxation Commission investigating the state Taxation Department, and opposed the introduction of an income tax, viewing it as unjust.[4] He sought re-election as a Labor candidate at the May 1900 election, but was defeated.[6][4] Russell returned to politics a year later when he won a 1901 by-election for the House of Assembly seat of Burra upon the resignation of Frederick Holder, but lost his seat at the 1902 election. He unsuccessfully contested a Legislative Council by-election in 1903 and the 1905 election.[2][4][6][8]
He was elected to the Senate for the Labor Party at the 1906 federal election.[1][9] The Observer wrote that "Russell was not a cultured speaker, but his addresses on the hustings and in Parliament were forceful, and characterized by a rugged native eloquence."[10] In June 1912, he was campaigning with Alexander Poynton at Lipson when he began experiencing heart problems; he was taken to a private hospital at Tumby Bay, but died there on 28 June.[11] He was buried at Payneham Cemetery.[2] His death necessitated an appointment to replace him in the Senate; the South Australian Parliament, controlled by the Liberal Union, successfully installed Liberal John Shannon, the first instance when a Senator of a different party was appointed.[9][a]
References
[edit]- ^ The South Australian parliament had previously appointed James O'Loghlin (Labor) to replace Joseph Vardon (Anti-Socialist) however the High Court ruled the appointment was void as there was no casual vacancy.[12] See Vardon v O'Loghlin.[13]
- ^ a b "William Russell (1842–1912)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d "A real loss: Laborite gone". Daily Herald. 29 June 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 6 August 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Death of Senator Russell". The Daily Telegraph. 29 June 1912. p. 13. Retrieved 6 August 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ a b c d "Senator Russell". The Advertiser. 29 June 1912. p. 19. Retrieved 6 August 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Death of Sr. Russell". Evening Journal. 29 June 1912. p. 1. Retrieved 6 August 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ a b c Jaensch, Dean. "History of South Australian elections 1857-2006, volume 2". Electoral Commission of South Australia. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "Mr William Russell". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ Jaensch, Dean. "History of South Australian elections 1857-2006, volume 1". Electoral Commission of South Australia. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ a b Carr, Adam. "Senate appointments 1910-1913". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Death of Senator Russell". Observer. 6 July 1912. p. 41. Retrieved 6 August 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ "Death of Sr. Russell". The Register. 29 June 1912. p. 15. Retrieved 6 August 2021 – via Trove.
- ^ Carr, Adam. "Senate appointments 1906-1910". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ Leeming, M. "Judicial Review of Vice-Regal Decisions: South Australia v O'Shea, its Precursors and its Progeny" (PDF). (2015) 36 Adelaide Law Review 1.