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John Henry Smith (1867–1956)

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John Henry Smith (1867-1956) iron moulder and trade union official

Birth: 28 December 1867 at Doribank, Oxley Island, Manning River, New South Wales, son of John Andrew Smith, station manager or drayman, and Margaret, née Lee (1843-1930), born in Kings County (Offaly), Ireland. Marriage: 28 June 1894 at St Stephen’s Anglican Church, Newtown, Sydney, NSW, to native-born Annie Galloway (1869-1941), who signed with a mark. They had four daughters and three sons. Death: 6 July 1956 in his usual residence at Ngarveno Street, Moonee Ponds, Melbourne, Victoria. 

  • Was working as an iron moulder and living at South Sydney in 1894. Moved to Victoria about 1903.
  • Treasurer of the Victorian Moulders’ Union from 1914 to 1945.
  • Member of the Australian Labor Party from the 1930s to his death.
  • Retired at 78 years of age. Cause of death: arteriosclerosis (years) and cerebral haemorrhage.
  • Was the father-in-Law of Samuel Merrifield (1904-1982), surveyor and politician.

Sources
Merrifield Card Index, State Library of Victoria.

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Citation details

'Smith, John Henry (1867–1956)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/smith-john-henry-34998/text44118, accessed 27 April 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

28 December, 1867
Oxley Island, New South Wales, Australia

Death

6 July, 1956 (aged 88)
Moonee Ponds, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

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