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Bryant, Francis Henry (Frank) (1864–1946)

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Francis Henry (Frank) Bryant (1864-1946) compositor, trade union leader, parliamentarian

Birth: 14 February 1864 in West Maitland, New South Wales, son of  Francis Michael Byant, baker, and Harriet, née Horder. Marriage: (1) 1882 to Elizabeth Horder. They had two sons and two daughters. (2) 10 March 1924 to Harriett ‘Minnie’ O’Connor. Death: 16 September 1946 in hospital at Lidcombe, Sydney, New South Wales. Religion: Methodist. 

  • Educated at Christ Church Provincial School, Sydney.
  • Began printing career with John Sands and Co. aged 14. Completed apprenticeship at W.E. Smith and joined NSW Typographical Association.
  • From 1885 to 1890 was a Salvation Army officer, stationed at Burwood, then country districts of the colony.
  • Employed in Government Printing Office from 1898 to 1907. Member NSW Typographical Association and vice-president in 1905. From 1906 to 1908 delegate to Trades and Labor Council of NSW. Executive committee member 1906. President and organiser from 1908. Member Printing Trades (Country) board.
  • Early member of Political Labor League [Australian Labor Party]. From 1907 to 1916 was a member of the central executive and in 1908-1909 president. Appointed a justice of the peace in 1911 and member of the Legislative Council of NSW on 23 July 1912.
  • Pro-conscription member of the Universal Service League in 1915-16. In 1920 was expelled from ALP for supporting Nationalist candidates. Readmitted in 1926, was expelled again for voting against abolition of Legislative Council, alleging intimidation bribery and corruption against Lang government.
  • Became Nationalist then member of the United Australia Party. Held his seat until reconstitution of the Legislative Council in April 1934. Unsuccessfully contested UAP preselection of Legislative Council seat in 1934 and in 1940.
  • A Freemason.

Sources
Heather Radi, Peter Spearritt and Elizabeth Hinton, Biographical Register of the NSW Parliament 1901-1970 (Canberra, 1979; The Australasian Typographical Journal, 1 Oct 1908; Australian Worker (Sydney), 3 March 1926, pp 1 & 12, 10 March 1926, p 3, 10 March 1926, p 15.

Additional Resources

Citation details

'Bryant, Francis Henry (Frank) (1864–1946)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/bryant-francis-henry-frank-32476/text40282, accessed 10 June 2023.

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