Ralph Mayer Robey (8 January 1809 – 1 April 1864), often "Ralph Meyer Robey", was an English-born Australian politician and businessman. Robey was the son of William and Elizabeth Robey, and migrated to

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

in 1841. He ran a store and ironmongery in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

from 1843, and gradually expanded his business over the subsequent years. He was also involved in sugar growing and was one of the original shareholders of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR). He set up a sugar refinery in opposition to CSR at Oyster Cove ( Waverton), which failed when credit was curtailed under controversial circumstances. Financially embarrassed, Robey had to sell the enterprise to CSR at a loss, leading to dispute and litigation. He served on the

Sydney City Council The City of Sydney is the local government area covering the Sydney central business district and surrounding inner city suburbs of the Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Established by Act of Parliament in 1842, the City of Sydney is ...

from 1846 to 1847 and was a member of the

New South Wales Legislative Council The New South Wales Legislative Council, often referred to as the upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, parliament of the Australian state of New South Wales. Along with the New South Wales Legislative As ...

from 1858 to 1861 and from 1861 to his death at Longton in

Staffordshire Staffordshire (; postal abbreviation ''Staffs''.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It borders Cheshire to the north-west, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east, ...

in 1864.

Family

Robey married twice: first to Mary Ann Robey, née Leese, with whom he had five children, and died in 1841 on the way to Australia. On 21 October 1842 he married Louisa Townsend; they would have another five or more. She killed herself on 20 September 1889 by cutting her throat. Among their children were: *Anne Maria Robey married

George R. Dibbs Sir George Richard Dibbs Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, KCMG (12 October 1834 – 5 August 1904) was an Australian politician who was Premier of New South Wales on three occasions. Early years Dibbs was born in Syd ...

in 1857. *His third daughter Frances Emily Robey (died 22 June 1899) married Henry Edward Russell of

Goulburn Goulburn ( ) is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, approximately south-west of Sydney and north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters patent by Queen Victor ...

on 4 June 1870. *His fourth daughter Louisa Gertrude Robey (c. 1847 – 29 March 1918), married

George Alfred Russell George Alfred Russell (c. 1839 – 6 December 1926) was an Australian businessman involved in several business ventures, finally acting as Australian manager for the North British Insurance Company. History Russell was born at “Claremont” St ...

at Valparaiso on 27 December 1866. George Alfred Russell and Henry Edward Russell were brothers.

References

1809 births 1864 deaths Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council British emigrants to the Colony of New South Wales 19th-century Australian businesspeople {{Australia-politician-stub