William Rea (politician)

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William Rea
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Rockhampton
In office
15 November 1878 – 21 September 1881
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded byJohn Ferguson
Personal details
Born
William Rea

1816
Belfast, Ireland
Died21 September 1881 (aged 64 or 65)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting placeToowong Cemetery
NationalityIrish Australian
OccupationStorekeeper

William Rea (1816–1881) was a stock and station agent and a politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

Early life[edit]

William Rea was born in Belfast in 1816.[2] He came to Australia in about 1841 where he worked in stock and station agency business with firms which had branches in New South Wales and New Zealand. Around the time of the separation of Queensland (circa 1859), he moved to Rockhampton where he established his own stock and station agency business with Mr Rankin.[3]

Politics[edit]

Rea was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in the Electorate of Rockhampton on 15 November 1878. He held the seat until his death on 21 September 1881.[2]

Later life[edit]

Rea died on 21 September 1881 in his temporary residence at Martin Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. He had been unwell for a few days beforehand and, having failed to attend Parliament, was found dead apparently from heart disease. At the time of his death, he was writing a letter in which he said he felt he was dying and fell to the floor with his pencil still in hand.[4][5] He was buried on 22 September 1881 in Toowong Cemetery.[6]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Part 2.15 – Alphabetical Register of Members of the Legislative Assembly 1860–2017 and the Legislative Council 1860–1922" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2015–2017: The 55th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b "Rea, William". Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  3. ^ "THE LATE WILLIAM REA, ESQ., M.L.A." The Capricornian. Vol. 7, no. 39. Queensland, Australia. 24 September 1881. p. 1. Retrieved 28 February 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Death of Sir. Rea". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXXVI, no. 7, 394. Queensland, Australia. 22 September 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 28 February 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Search death historical records". Queensland Government. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Cemetery search". Brisbane City Council. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
Parliament of Queensland
New seat Member for Rockhampton
1878–1881
Served alongside: Thomas Macdonald-Paterson
Succeeded by