Edward Langton
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Edward Langton (2 January 1828 – 5 October 1905) was an Australian businessman and politician,
Treasurer of Victoria The Treasurer of Victoria is the title held by the Cabinet Minister who is responsible for the financial management of the budget sector in the Australian state of Victoria. This primarily includes: * preparation and delivery of the annual Stat ...
in 1868 and 1872–1874. Langton was born in
Gravesend, Kent Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, situated 21 miles (35 km) east-southeast of Charing Cross (central London) on the Bank (geography), south bank of the River Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. Located in the diocese of Roche ...
, England, the youngest son of David Elland Langton, a butcher, and his wife Mary, ''née'' Payne. Langton migrated to
Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
in 1852, aged 24, becoming involved in politics in the late 1850s. Langton unsuccessfully contested the
Victorian Legislative Assembly The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the states and territories of Australia, state lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria in Australia; the state upper house being the Victorian Legislative Council. Both houses sit at Parliament H ...
seats of Collingwood in 1859 and 1861,
East Melbourne East Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Melbourne local government area. East Melbourne recorded a population of 4,896 at the 2021 ce ...
in 1861, East Bourke Boroughs in 1864, and Dundas in 1865. Langton eventually had electoral success and represented
East Melbourne East Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Melbourne local government area. East Melbourne recorded a population of 4,896 at the 2021 ce ...
from February 1866 until December 1867. Then from May 1868 to April 1877 he represented West Melbourne. On 6 May 1868 Langton, who was a staunch Conservative as well as a Free-trader, became
Treasurer of Victoria The Treasurer of Victoria is the title held by the Cabinet Minister who is responsible for the financial management of the budget sector in the Australian state of Victoria. This primarily includes: * preparation and delivery of the annual Stat ...
in
Charles Sladen Sir Charles Sladen, (28 August 1816 – 22 February 1884), Australian colonial politician, was the 6th Premier of Victoria. Sladen was born in England near Walmer, Kent, the second son of John Baker Sladen, deputy-lieutenant of the county. He ...
's short-lived Ministry, and occupied the same post, with the additional office of
Postmaster-General of Victoria The Postmaster-General of Victoria was a ministry portfolio within the Executive Council of Victoria. The position was created in 1857, shortly after the colony separated from New South Wales. Upon Federation, Section 51(v) of the Constituti ...
, in the James Francis Government, from 10 June 1872 to 31 July 1874, when he resigned with his colleagues. Langton has written much for the Melbourne press, and was one of the earliest proprietors of the ''Spectator'', a free trade organ started in 1865. He was secretary of the Free Trade League of Victoria from its commencement until 1866, was an honorary member of the Cobden Club from 1874, and was a trustee and treasurer of the Melbourne Public Library and Museum. Langton was again unsuccessful in contesting Castlemaine February 1880, West Melbourne in 1886,
Toorak Toorak () is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Stonnington local government area. Toorak recorded a population of 12,817 at the 2021 census. The name ...
in 1892 and 1894, and East Melbourne in 1897. Langton died of pneumonia on 5 October 1905 in his home in
Toorak, Victoria Toorak () is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, Central Business District, located within the City of Stonnington Local government areas of Victoria, ...
;survived by a daughter and one of his two sons.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Langton, Edward 1828 births 1905 deaths Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly Treasurers of Victoria People from Gravesend, Kent People from the Colony of Victoria English emigrants to colonial Australia 19th-century Australian politicians Deaths from pneumonia in Victoria (state) 19th-century Australian businesspeople Postmasters-general of Victoria