Edward Archer (politician)

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Edward Archer
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Capricornia
In office
12 December 1906 – 13 April 1910
Preceded byDavid Thomson
Succeeded byWilliam Higgs
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Normanby
In office
5 March 1914 – 22 May 1915
Preceded byGeorge Fox
Succeeded byJens Peterson
Personal details
Born(1871-12-12)12 December 1871
Croydon, England
Died1 July 1940(1940-07-01) (aged 68)
Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
Resting placeThe Archer family cemetery, Gracemere
NationalityAustralian
Political partyAnti-Socialist (1906–09)
Liberal (1909–10)
SpouseAda Jessie Rhoades
RelationsThe Archer brothers (father and uncles)
OccupationGrazier

Edward Walker Archer (12 December 1871 – 1 July 1940) was an Australian politician of Queensland.

Early life[edit]

Archer was born on 12 December 1871 in Croydon, Surrey, England. He was the son of David Archer and Susan (née Stubbs).[1] His father, born in Scotland, was one of the Archer brothers – including Charles, Archibald, Thomas, Alexander, and Colin – who engaged in commercial activities in Scotland, Norway and Australia.[2]

Archer was educated in London at Whitgift School and King's College School. He worked with the British India Steam Navigation Company in London from 1891 to 1894, then spent several years on the Canadian Prairies engaged in farming. He relocated to Australia in 1897, joining his brothers Robert and John as a partner in their business activities in Gracemere, Queensland. Archer was manager of the company's station at Targinnie, as well as a small gold mine within the boundaries of their lease. He was chairman of the Port Curtis Dairy Company Ltd from 1904 to 1907 and served terms on the Shire Councils for the Shire of Calliope and the Shire of Fitzroy.[1]

Politics[edit]

Archer was elected to the Australian House of Representatives electoral Division of Capricornia as an Anti-Socialist on 12 December 1906, serving until 13 April 1910. When he was sworn as an MP in February 1907, he chose to make an affirmation rather than swear an oath, making him the first member of the House of Representatives to do so.[3]

Later, Archer changed to state politics, serving as member for the electorate of Normanby in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland between 5 March 1914 until the state election on 22 May 1915.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Archer, Edward Walker (1871–1940)Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  2. ^ O'Keeffe, Mary (1966). "David Archer (1816–1900)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 1. Melbourne University Press.
  3. ^ Deirdre McKeown (2013). "Oaths and affirmations made by the executive and members of federal parliament since 1901". Australian Parliamentary Library.
  4. ^ "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Capricornia
1906–1910
Succeeded by
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Member for Normanby
1914–1915
Succeeded by