Francis Beattie (Queensland politician)

Francis Beattie
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Fortitude Valley
In office 25 February 1874 – 26 November 1878
Preceded by	Charles Lilley
Succeeded by	Ratcliffe Pring
In office 28 May 1879 – 16 April 1886 Serving with John McMaster
Preceded by	Ratcliffe Pring
Succeeded by	Samuel Brooks
Personal details
Born	Francis Beattie 29 August 1829 Dumfries, Scotland
Died	16 April 1886 (aged 64) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Toowong Cemetery
Nationality	Scottish Australian
Spouse(s)	Janet Ross ((m.1850 d.1887)
Occupation	Hatter
Religion	Church of England

Francis Beattie (29 August 1829 – 16 April 1886) was a hatter and member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[1]

Biography

Beattie was born in Dumfries, Scotland to parents Francis Beattie and his wife Susannah (née Hannah).^[1] He attended school in Carlisle, Cumberland and became a sailor as a boy. In 1849, whilst in a new Zealand port, there was a disturbance amongst the crew and the captain of the ship refused to proceed but Beattie took charge and navigated the vessel to Port Phillip where he gained work as a pilot. During the Canoona gold rush he sailed to Keppel Bay and later visited Brisbane. He finally settled in Brisbane in 1862, arriving on the Maryborough.^[1]

In 1850 he married Janet Ross (died 1887) in Brisbane, and together had five sons and five daughters. A member of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows, he died April of 1886.^[1] His funeral proceeded from his Bowen Hills residence to the Toowong Cemetery.^[2][3]

Political career

Beattie was an alderman in the Brisbane Municipal Council from 1868 until 1871 and then 1873 until 1874. He was appointed Chairman of the Booroodabin Divisional Board and President of the Joint Board of the United Municipality. He was also superintendent of the Brisbane fire brigade from 1870 until 1882.^[1]

He was also the member for Fortitude Valley in the Queensland Parliament from 1874 until his 1878 and 1879 until his death in 1886.^[1]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
2. "Francis Beattie". The Brisbane Courier XLI, (8,816) (Queensland, Australia). 17 April 1886. p. 1. Retrieved 30 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
3. Deceased Search — Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search. Retrieved 26 March 2016.