People Australia

Samuel Smith, n.d.

Samuel Smith (1857-1916) seaman, trade union leader, alderman and parliamentarian

Birth: 17 February 1857 at Deepdraught, Bartonholm, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, illegitimate son of Samuel Smith (1826-1901), coal pit engine keeper, and Marion, née Hunter (1831-1916). He was legitimated when his parents married in June 1859. Marriage: 1888 in Sydney, New South Wales, to native-born Ellen Gorman (1865-1935). They had four daughters and one son. Death: 22 January 1916 at Callan Park Hospital, Lilyfield, NSW. Religion: Congregational, buried in Presbyterian cemetery. 

• Educated at Kilwinning, Scotland. Worked in coal mine at 11 years of age; Later active in Glasgow Railway and Seamen’s Union.
• Arrived in Sydney in 1882. Helped to found the Seamen’s Union and was assistant secretary in 1890 and secretary from 1891 to 1902 (resigned). Member of Labor Defence Committee during Alameda Chinese dispute 1890.
• Helped re-organise wharf labourers in Newcastle and Sydney. Appointed as special member of NSW Marine Board.
• President and treasurer of the Stewards and Cooks’ Union; president of the Shore Drivers and Firemen’s Union (later known as Coast District Branch of Federated Engine Drivers and Firement’s Association). Committee member of the Cold Storage Employees’ Union.
• Delegate to Ballarat Trade Union Conference 1891. Delegate to Trades and Labor Council in 1891-1894 and member of executive committee 1893-1894. Representative of Sydney Labor Council in intercolonial Labor conference at Brisbane and to Eight-hour committees at Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. Trustee of the Eight Hour Day Committee 1891.
• Delegate to and president of the Sydney district, Australian Labour Federation, from 1894 to 1999. President of the Political Labor League (Australian Labor Party) in 1898-1899.
• Alderman for Pyrmont ward in Sydney City Council from 7 December 1900 to 30 November 1902.
• Member of the Legislative Assembly for Sydney-Pyrmont from 37 July 1898 until 30 March 1902, when he resigned on health grounds.
• Instrumental in the passing of Navigation Act and Art Union Act. In 1901 as Labor candidate he had contested the election for the first Australian Senate. Employees elected representative on the NSW Arbitration Court from 1902. Was replaced by Edward Riley because of continued absences due to ill health in 1905.
• Director of unsuccessful Daily Post in 1895. In connection with financial management he was charged with conspiracy to defraud and served two months’ sentence before conviction quashed.
• Member of the Loyal United Bros Lodge of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows.
• In last years of his life it was reported that he suffered from “consumption of the spine . . . and it has brought on locomotor ataxia and dementia”. Cause of death: tabes dorsalis, tropical ulcer and exhaustion.

Sources
N. B. Nairn, Civilising Capitalism, (Canberra, 1973), pp 173 etc; Heather Radi, Peter Spearritt & Elizabeth Hinton (eds), Biographical Register of the NSW Parliament 1901-1970 (Canberra, 1979) [has incorrect birth details]; Worker, 5 April 1902, p 3; C. N. Connolly, Biographical Register of the New South Wales Parliament 1856-1901 (ANU Press, Canberra, 1983), p 310 [has incorrect birth details]; Safety Valve (FEDFA) 1 September 1916; Official Souvenir for 8-hour Demonstration, 1900, p 44.