Charles Fitzsimmons (politician)

Charles Fitzsimmons (1802—1876) was an Irish-born politician and sugar farmer in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.

Charles Fitzsimmons
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Port Curtis
In office 4 May 1860 – 3 September 1861
Succeeded by	Alfred Sandeman
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Rockhampton
In office 1 February 1865 – 27 June 1867
Succeeded by	Thomas Henry FitzGerald
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Clermont
In office 1 July 1867 – 11 May 1868
Preceded by	George Edward Forbes
Succeeded by	John Scott
Personal details
Born	1802 County Cavan, Ireland
Died	24 February 1876 Mackay, Queensland
Occupation	Sugar planter

Early life

Charles Fitzsimmons was born in 1802 in County Cavan, Ireland, the son of James Fitzsimmons and his wife Margaret (née Lynch).^[1]

Politics

Fitzsimmons was elected as Member for Port Curtis in the Queensland Legislative Assembly at the inaugural colonial election on 4 May 1860. He held that seat until he resigned on 3 September 1861; Alfred Sandeman won the resulting by-election on 15 October 1861.^[2]

Under the Additional Members Act 1864, the seats of Clermont, Kennedy, Maryborough, Mitchell, Rockhampton and Warrego were created. By-elections were held to fill the new seats on 18 March 1865. Fitzsimmons was elected in Rockhampton. He held the seat until the 1867 election on 27 June at which he did not contest the seat, saying he desired to retire from public life. However, he did contest the seat of electoral district of Clermont in the same election, and it was speculated that he had been pressured to stand aside in Rockhampton to allow Archibald Archer to be elected there.^[3][4] However, Thomas Henry Fitzgerald won the election in Rockhampton, but resigned immediately as he wanted to contest the electoral district of Kennedy instead. Archer won the resulting by-election in Rockhampton on 27 July 1867 unopposed.^[2]

Fitzsimmons won the election in Clermont on 1 July 1867 and represented that seat until he resigned on 11 May 1868.^[1][2]

Later life

Fitzsimmons died on 24 February 1876 at Nebia Plantation, Mackay, Queensland, following several weeks of prostration due to old age.^[1][5]

See also

• Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1860–1863
• Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1863–1867
• Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1867–1868

References

1. "Fitzsimmons, Charles". Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
2. "Part 2.15 – Alphabetical Register of Members of the Legislative Assembly 1860–2017 and the Legislative Council 1860–1922" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2015–2017: The 55th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
3. "ROCKHAMPTON AND PORT CURTIS ELECTORATES". Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser. 13 June 1867. p. 2. Retrieved 11 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "Untitled". Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser. 15 June 1867. p. 2. Retrieved 11 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "Mackay". The Queenslander. 11 March 1876. p. 7. Retrieved 12 March 2014 – via National Library of Australia.

Parliament of Queensland
New seat	Member for Port Curtis 1860–1861	Succeeded by Alfred Sandeman
New seat	Member for Rockhampton 1865–1867	Succeeded by Thomas Henry FitzGerald
Preceded by George Edward Forbes	Member for Clermont 1867–1868	Succeeded by John Scott