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Frederick (Fred) Thornton (1860–1930)

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Frederick (Fred) Thornton (1860-1930) engineer and trade union official

Birth: 1860 at Dudley, England, son of Frederick William Thornton, engineer. Marriage: 1890 at Richmond, Victoria to Esther Isabella Lowrie (1867-1966), born in New Zealand. They had two daughters and one son. Death: 16 March 1930 in his residence ‘Dudley’, Brighton Beach, Victoria. Religion: Anglican. 

  • Arrived in Victoria aboard the Durham in 1878. Worked as an engineer, and in 1912 was engineering officer in charge of the Railway Department’s Ice Works at Spencer Street, Melbourne.
  • Joined Amalgamated Society of Engineers of Australasia (ASEA) in 1883 and remained a member until his death. Represented the Williamstown branch on Melbourne district council for many years.
  • Held offices in the union from door keeper to delegate, working much of the time in an honorary capacity. Recipient of certificate of merit. Member of Australasian Council for thirty years and was later chairman.
  • As president of ASEA, he represented Australia at 1912 delegates meeting at Manchester, in England, which granted complete autonomy to the society in Australasia and also expanded the range of workers entitled to be admitted. First Chairman of Commonwealth Council from which position he retired due to ill health.
  • Cause of death: arteriosclerosis, cerebral haemorrhage and heart failure (16 hours).

Sources
ASE CC Monthly Report AEU, April 1930 pp 51-52.

Additional Resources and Scholarship

Citation details

'Thornton, Frederick (Fred) (1860–1930)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/thornton-frederick-fred-35056/text44201, accessed 26 April 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1860
Dudley, West Midlands, England

Death

16 March, 1930 (aged ~ 70)
Brighton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

Cultural Heritage

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