Edmund Lonsdale (31 October 1843 – 4 October 1913) was an Australian politician. Born in
Morpeth, New South Wales
Morpeth is a suburb of the city of Maitland in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is on the southern banks of the Hunter River (New South Wales), Hunter River at the border between the City of Maitland and Port Stephens Council L ...
, he was schooled in
Maitland before becoming a bricklayer, builder and contractor. He was also an alderman on
Armidale Shire Council.
At the
1891 election he stood as a
Free Trade
Free trade is a trade policy that does not restrict imports or exports. In government, free trade is predominantly advocated by political parties that hold Economic liberalism, economically liberal positions, while economic nationalist politica ...
candidate for
New England
New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...
and was the third of three members elected. Multi-member electorates were abolished for the
1894 election and Lonsdale was the Free Trade candidate for
Armidale
Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale had a population of 23,967 as of the 2021 census. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands reg ...
, however he was unsuccessful. He stood again at the
Armidale
Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale had a population of 23,967 as of the 2021 census. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands reg ...
and was elected with 50.4% of the vote. He only held the seat for one term, defeated by
Charles Wilson at the
1898 election, with 43.7% of the vote.
Lonsdale was unsuccessful at the
1901 federal election for the seat of
New England
New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...
, but then returned to the Legislative Assembly, defeating Wilson at the
1901 state election, with 50.8% of the vote. He resigned in 1903 to successfully contest New England at the
1903 federal election. He only held the seat for one term, defeated at the
1906 federal election Lonsdale again then returned to the Legislative Assembly at the
1907 state election, with 52.0% of the vote, holding the seat at the
1910 state election, with 51.3% of the vote.
Lonsdale was severely injured when hit by a motor car at Hill Street, Uralla, on the evening of 4 October 1913; he died soon after while being transported to Armidale Hospital on a freight train.
[''Armidale Express'', 10 October 1913, p. 4.] He died in office aged 69.
References
Free Trade Party members of the Parliament of Australia
Commonwealth Liberal Party politicians
Colony of New South Wales people
Members of the Australian House of Representatives for New England
Members of the Australian House of Representatives
Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
1843 births
1913 deaths
People from Maitland, New South Wales
Australian builders
Road incident deaths in New South Wales
Australian MPs 1903–1906
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