Thomas Plunkett, senior

Thomas Plunkett
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Albert
In office 17 May 1888 – 21 March 1896
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Robert Collins
In office 18 March 1899 – 5 February 1908
Preceded by	Robert Collins
Succeeded by	John Appel
Personal details
Born	Thomas Plunkett April 1840 Arrigal, County Meath, Ireland
Died	2 September 1913 (aged 73) Sandgate, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Tambourine Cemetery
Nationality	Irish Australian
Political party	Opposition
Other political affiliations	Ministerial
Spouse(s)	Maria Ryan (m.1866 d.1939)
Relations	Thomas Flood Plunkett (son)
Occupation	Farmer
Religion	Roman Catholic

Thomas Plunkett (April 1840 - 2 September 1913) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[1]

Biography

Plunkett was born in Arrigal, County Meath, the son of John Plunkett and his wife Catherine (née Flood). He was educated privately and at the local school before sailing to Queensland aboard the Fiery Star in 1863. In 1866 he selected farmland which he named "Waterford" at Logan. In 1870 he then acquired land at Tamborine where he engaged in and 2000 acres at Kerry and Logan Village where he took up dairy farming and crop growing.^[1] Later on he established a general store in the area.^[2]

On the 2nd May 1866 Plunkett married Maria Ryan^[1] (died 1939)^[3] at St Stephen's Cathederal^[2] in Brisbane and together had four sons and four daughters.^[1] He died at the residence of one of his daughters at Sandgate and his body was taken to South Brisbane railway station to be transported to Logan Village and later, the Tambourine Cemetery.^[4]

Public career

Plunkett won the new seat of Albert at the 1888 Queensland colonial election,^[5] but was defeated by Robert Collins in 1896.^[6] He regained the seat three years later^[7] and held it until he retired from politics in 1908.^[1]

Plunkett was a Member of the Colonists' Anti-Convention Bill League and campaigned vigorously against federation. His son, Thomas Flood Plunkett, was a long serving member of the Queensland Parliament having represented the seats of Albert and Darlington.^[1]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
2. Plunkett, Thomas (1840-1913) — Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
3. Family history research — Queensland Government births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
4. "Family Notices". The Brisbane Courier (17,360) (Queensland, Australia). 3 September 1913. p. 4. Retrieved 4 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "The General Election.". The Brisbane Courier. XLIV, (9,467) (Queensland, Australia). 18 May 1888. p. 6. Retrieved 4 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "General Election". The Brisbane Courier LII, (11,915) (Queensland, Australia). 23 March 1896. p. 6. Retrieved 4 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "The Elections". The Brisbane Courier LV, (12,850) (Queensland, Australia). 20 March 1899. p. 6. Retrieved 4 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.