Austin Chapman

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Austin Chapman in about 1901

Sir Austin Chapman (10 July 1864 - 12 January 1926), Australian politician, was a member of several early federal ministries. He was born in Bong Bong near Bowral, New South Wales and educated at Marulan Public School and was apprenticed as a saddler at an early age. In about 1884 he went into business as a publican, storekeeper and auctioneer in Queanbeyan, and later became an investor and company director.^[1]

[edit] Political career

In 1894 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as MLA for Braidwood.^[2] Like most politicians from the southern border regions of New South Wales, he was an active supporter of federation of the Australian colonies.

In 1901 Chapman was elected to the first House of Representatives as MP for the Division of Eden-Monaro. A Protectionist, he was Minister for Defence in the first ministry of Alfred Deakin (1903-05), Postmaster-General in the second Deakin ministry (1905-08), and Minister for Trade and Customs from 1907-08. After a long period on the backbench, he was Minister for Health in the Bruce government (1923-24).

Chapman's most important contribution was his influence on the choice of the site of Australia's national capital, Canberra. He lobbied hard for the site on the Molonglo River near Queanbeyan, in his electorate. The success of his lobbying benefited many of his friends who owned land in the area, and also greatly boosted trade in Queanbeyan, the nearest town to the site. He was still MP for Eden-Monaro at the time of his death in Sydney of cerebro-vascular disease. He was survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons, James Austin Chapman and John Austin Chapman who both became distinguished soldiers.^[1]^[3]

[edit] Honours

Chapman was made KCMG in 1924. The Canberra suburb of Chapman was named after him.

[edit] Notes

^ ^a ^b Gibbney, H. J.. Chapman, Sir Austin (1864 - 1926). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved on 2007-03-26.
^ Sir Austin Chapman (1864 - 1956). Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved on 2007-03-26.
^ Thompson, Roger C.. Chapman, John Austin (1896 - 1963). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved on 2007-03-26.

Preceded by Walter Massy-Greene	Minister for Health 1923–1924	Succeeded by Herbert Pratten

Persondata
NAME	Chapman, Austin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Australian politician
DATE OF BIRTH	10 July 1864
PLACE OF BIRTH	Bong Bong near Bowral, New South Wales
DATE OF DEATH	12 January 1926
PLACE OF DEATH	Sydney