Sydney Davis (politician)

Sydney Davis
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Clermont
In office 18 March 1865 – 18 August 1866
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Roderick Travers
Personal details
Born	Sydney Bevan Davis 1829 Winterbourne Abbas, Dorsetshire, England
Died	27 June 1884 (aged 54-55) Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	South Rockhampton Cemetery
Nationality	English Australian
Spouse(s)	Emily Mary Anne Ariel (m.1865)
Alma mater	University of Oxford
Occupation	Pastoralist
Religion	Church of England

Sydney Bevan Davis (1829—1884) was a pastoralist and politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[1]

Early life

Sydney Bevan Davis was born in Dorsetshire, England, in 1829, the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel John Davis, of the Dorsetshire Militia, who for many years was Master of Foxhounds for Queen Victoria. Sydney Davis was a lieutenant in his father's regiment. He was educated at the University of Oxford. He immigrated to Queensland in 1861 with considerable capital that he invested in a pastoral property at Peak Downs called Peak Vale Station and also had an interest in the Craven Downs Station.^[2]

Politics

Under the Additional Members Act 1864, the seats of Clermont, Kennedy, Maryborough, Mitchell, Rockhampton and Warrego were created. By-elections to fill the new seats were held on 1 February 1865 (Maryborough and Rockhampton), on 18 March 1865 (Clermont and Kennedy) and on 25 March 1865 (Mitchell and Warrego).^[3][4] Sydney Davis was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in Clermont on 18 March 1865. On 18 August 1866, Sydney Davis resigned, believed to be linked to the difficult conditions caused by the drought on his pastoral holdings. Roderick Travers won the resulting by-election on 11 September 1866; however, he declined to take the seat and resigned on 12 October. A further by-election on 13 November 1866 was won by George Forbes.^[1][5][6]

Later life

After the difficulties he faced with the drought on his Peak Downs properties, he retired to Rockhampton.^[2] He died on Friday 27 June 1884 following an illness of several weeks.^[7] He was buried in the Church of England section of the South Rockhampton Cemetery on Saturday 28 June 1884.^[2][8]

See also

• Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1863–1867

References

1. "Davis, Sydney Beavan". Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
2. "The Morning Bulletin, ROCKHAMPTON.". Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954) (Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia). 30 June 1884. p. 2. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
3. "Local and General News.". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (National Library of Australia). 19 January 1865. p. 3. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
4. "NON-INFECTIOUSNESS OF PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.". The Darling Downs Gazette and General Advertiser (Toowoomba, Qld.: National Library of Australia). 1 February 1865. p. 4. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
5. "Part 2.19 - Alphabetical Register of Members of the Legislative Assembly 1860-2012 and the Legislative Council 1860-1922" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2012-2015: The 54th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
6. "Part 2.21 - Representatives of Queensland State Electorates 1860-2015" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2012-2015: The 54th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
7. "The Morning Bulletin, ROCKHAMPTON.". Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954) (Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia). 28 June 1884. p. 4. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
8. "South Rockhampton Cemetery burial index" (PDF). Rockhampton Regional Council. Retrieved 16 March 2015.