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Finlay McInnes (1874–1937)

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McInnes, Finlay (1874-1937) trade union official 

Birth: 10 September 1874 at Picton, New South Wales, son of Malcolm McInnes (1835-1907), a blacksmith, born at Morsaig, Sleat, Isle of Skye, Scotland, and Isabella, née Slattery (1840-1893), born at Whitechapel, London, England. Marriage: 17 November 1898 at the Independent Presbyterian Church, Pitt Street, Sydney, to Evelyn Frances Hyland (1877-1932), born at Benalla, Victoria. They had one daughter and two sons. Death: 15 June 1937 in a private hospital, at Earlwood, Sydney, NSW; usual residence Homer Street, Undercliffe, Canterbury. Religion: Methodist. 

  • Might have been the Finlay McInnes who lost his leg before 1895 (Newcastle Herald, 5 October 1895).
  • He was probably the Finlay McInnes who, with Bert Power, actively promoted the revival of unionism amongst Sydney trollymen and draymen in 1900-1901 and was founding honorary secretary of the Trolly, Draymen and Carters' Union from February to April 1901 (resigned).
  • About 1905 he moved to Undercliffe, Canterbury, in Sydney, was an estate agent, president of the Wanstead Progress Association in 1907-1908 and in 1914 was a candidate for East Ward in Canterbury Municipal Council.
  • For several years he was honorary organiser of the Cook’s River Improvement League. In 1924 he was appointed to the honorary council of the Town Planning Association and in 1932 he was a representative of the Real Estate Institute.
  • Cause of death: uraemia and chronic nephritis.

Sources
Mark Bray & Andrew Rimmer, Delivering the Goods; the Transport Workers’ Union in New South Wales 1888-1986 (Sydney, 1987).

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Citation details

'McInnes, Finlay (1874–1937)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/mcinnes-finlay-34419/text43202, accessed 9 September 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

10 September, 1874
Picton, New South Wales, Australia

Death

15 June, 1937 (aged 62)
Earlwood, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

kidney disease

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation
Key Organisations