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{{Short description|Australian politician}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use Australian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox MP
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = Henry Saunders
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Henry John Saunders.jpg
| image = Henry John Saunders.jpg
| title = [[Australian Senate|Senator]] for [[Western Australia]]
| title = [[Australian Senate|Senator]] for [[Western Australia]]
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| birth_place = [[London]], [[England]]
| birth_place = [[London]], [[England]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1919|10|13|1855|2|16}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1919|10|13|1855|2|16}}
| death_place = [[West Perth, Western Australia]]
| death_place = [[West Perth, Western Australia]], Australia
| nationality = [[Australian]]
| nationality = [[Australia]]n
| spouse =
| party = [[Free Trade Party]]
| party = [[Free Trade Party]]
| relations =
| children =
| residence =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Civil engineer
| occupation = Civil engineer
| profession =
| religion =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Henry John Saunders''' (16 February 1855 – 13 October 1919) was an Australian engineer, businessman and politician. He was a prominent mining entrepreneur during the [[Western Australian gold rush]] and served on the [[Western Australian Legislative Council]] (1894–1902), as [[mayor of Perth]] (1895–1898), and briefly as a [[Australian Senate|Senator]] for [[Western Australia]] (1903).
⚫
'''Henry John Saunders''' (16 February 1855 &ndash; 13 October 1919) was an [[England|English]]-born [[Australia]]n politician.<ref>{{cite wikisource |chapter=Henry John Saunders |wslink=History of West Australia |plaintitle=History of West Australia |year=1897 |page=42}}</ref> Born in [[London]], he was educated in [[Bristol]] at [[Clifton College]] before becoming a civil engineer. In 1884 he migrated to Australia. He was involved in local politics and sat on [[City of Perth|Perth City Council]], serving as mayor in 1895; he was also a pastoralist and company director. In 1894 he was elected to the [[Western Australian Legislative Council]], serving until 1902. On 20 May 1903 he was appointed to the [[Australian Senate]] as a [[Free Trade Party|Free Trade]] Senator for [[Western Australia]], filling the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator [[Norman Ewing]]. He contested the [[Australian federal election, 1903|1903 election]] but was unsuccessful.<ref name=Psephos>{{cite web|last=Carr |first=Adam |title=Australian Election Archive |work=Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-11-19 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5QSilacl0?url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia |archivedate=20 July 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 1918 he returned to the Legislative Council, but he died in 1919 at St Omer's Private Hospital in West Perth.<ref name="stomers">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66921961 |title=TELEGRAMS |newspaper=[[Geraldton Guardian]] |volume=XIV, |issue=1925 |location=Western Australia |date=14 October 1919 |accessdate=15 November 2017 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==Early life==
Saunders was born on 16 February 1855 in [[London]], England, the son of Thomas Bush Saunders, a barrister and [[chief magistrate]] of [[Bradford-on-Avon]],<ref name=bio/> and Maria Albers (née Pedder).<ref name=waparl>{{cite news|url=https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/(Lookup)/C645E6D4ED9A4AFD482577E50028A7AC?OpenDocument|title=Henry John Saunders|work=Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia|publisher=Parliament of Western Australia|accessdate=15 November 2022}}</ref> He attended [[Clifton College]] in [[Bristol]],<ref>"Clifton College Register" Muirhead, J.A.O. p18: Bristol; J.W Arrowsmith for Old Cliftonian Society; April, 1948</ref> then trained as a civil engineer.<ref name=bio>{{Cite Au Senate |Sen id=henry-john-saunders |name=Saunders, Henry John (1855–1919) |first=Joan |last=Rydon |year=2000 |access-date=2023-01-16}}</ref>

==Engineering career==
Saunders immigrated to Western Australia in 1884 and settled in [[Perth]], where he became the chief engineer of the [[Midland Railway Company]]. He subsequently went into partnership with James Barratt in the firm of Saunders and Barratt.<ref name=bio/>

In 1887, Saunders and Barratt developed a plan for Perth's first metropolitan water supply scheme. Their proposal envisioned a dam of 140 million gallons on Munday Brook in [[Canning Mills, Western Australia|Canning Mills]], connected by a 12-inch pipeline with the reservoir at [[Mount Eliza (Western Australia)|Mount Eliza]] feeding in to the Perth townsite and also connecting to [[Fremantle]]. Although their proposal was initially rejected by both the [[City of Perth|Perth]] and [[City of Fremantle|Fremantle]] local governments, a virtually identical scheme was proceeded with a few years later and resulted in the construction of the [[Victoria Dam (Western Australia)|Victoria Dam]]. Saunders had previous experience in [[hydraulic engineering]] and chose the design for the dam wall.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/system/files/engineering-heritage-australia/nomination-title/HRP.Perth%27s%20First%20Public%20Water%20Supply%20Scheme.Nomination.Oct%202012.pdf|title=Nomination of Perth's First Public Water Supply Scheme|publisher=Engineering Heritage Western Australia|year=2012|access-date=22 May 2024}}</ref>

==Mining interests==
During the [[Western Australian gold rush]], Saunders made a fortune as a mining entrepreneur. He floated the West Australian Goldfields Company in London in 1894 which paid a 40 percent [[dividend]] in its first year. He was also involved with the Lady Shenton and Florence mines on the [[Menzies, Western Australia|Menzies]] goldfields.<ref name=bio/><ref>{{cite wikisource |chapter=Henry John Saunders |wslink=History of West Australia |plaintitle=History of West Australia |year=1897 |page=42}}</ref> In 1900, Saunders acquired the [[Leinster, Western Australia|Leinster]] mine which produced 34,813 ounces of gold over the next seven years. He also acquired pastoral leases around the mine and established [[Leinster Downs]] station.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article259047895|title=The Leinster: Option Secured by Yellowdine Gold Options, N.L. |newspaper=[[The Southern Cross News]] |date=10 January 1936 |access-date=2023-01-16 |page=9 |via=Trove}}</ref>

==Politics==
Saunders was elected to the [[City of Perth|Perth City Council]] in 1889 and served as [[mayor of Perth]] from 1895 to 1898. He first stood for parliament at the [[1890 Western Australian colonial election|1890 inaugural election]] for the [[Western Australian Legislative Assembly]], but was defeated in the seat of [[Electoral district of East Perth|East Perth]]. In 1894 he was elected to the [[Western Australian Legislative Council]] to a two-year term in [[Metropolitan Province]]. He was re-elected to a six-year term in 1896 but defeated for re-election in 1902.<ref name=bio/>

At the inaugural [[1901 Australian federal election|1901 federal election]], Saunders was an unsuccessful candidate for the Senate in Western Australia.<ref name=bio/> He stood on a platform that included free trade, [[White Australia policy|White Australia]], [[Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904|conciliation and arbitration]], old-age pensions, and women's suffrage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32718588 |title=Advertising: Henry J Saudners MLC |newspaper=[[West Australian Sunday Times]] |date=24 March 1901 |access-date=2023-01-16 |page=14 |via=Trove}}</ref> He placed eighth on the statewide ballot with six seats to fill,<ref name=bio/> and unsuccessfully petitioned for the election of [[Alexander Matheson (Australian politician)|Alec Matheson]] to be overturned on the grounds of bribery.<ref>{{Cite Au Senate |Sen id=alexander-perceval-matheson |name=Matheson, Sir Alexander Perceval (1861–1929) |first=Brian |last=de Garis |year=2000 |volume=1 (1901-1929) |access-date=2023-01-16}}</ref>

⚫
On 20 May 1903 he was appointed to the [[Australian Senate]] as a [[Free Trade Party|Free Trade]] Senator for [[Western Australia]], filling the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator [[Norman Ewing]]. He contested the [[1903 Australian federal election|1903 election]] but was unsuccessful.<ref name=Psephos>{{cite web|last=Carr |first=Adam |title=1903 Senate election: Western Australia |work=Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/1903/1903senatewa.txt |access-date=2023-01-16}}</ref> In 1918 he returned to the Legislative Council, but he died in 1919 at St Omer's Private Hospital in West Perth.<ref name="stomers">{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66921961 |title=Telegrams |newspaper=[[Geraldton Guardian]] |date=14 October 1919 |access-date=15 November 2017 |page=3 |via=Trove}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 1887, Saunders married Elizabeth Shenton, the daughter of [[George Shenton Sr.]] and sister of [[George Shenton]]. Their only child died in infancy and he was widowed in 1891.<ref name=waparl/> He remarried in 1893 to Julia Parthenia Davey, with whom he had two sons.<ref name=bio/>

From 1895, Saunders lived at [[Henley Brook, Western Australia|Henley Park]], a property of {{convert|5400|acre|ha}} on the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]] north of [[Guildford, Western Australia|Guildford]]. He bred horses, sheep, [[Ayrshire cattle]] and pigs, serving as president of the [[Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia]].<ref name="bio" />

He died on 13 October 1919 at the age of 64 and was interred at [[Karrakatta Cemetery]].<ref name=bio/>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Free Trade Party members of the Parliament of Australia]]
[[Category:Free Trade Party members of the Parliament of Australia]]
[[Category:People educated at Clifton College]]
[[Category:People educated at Clifton College]]
[[Category:Settlers of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian Senate for Western Australia]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian Senate for Western Australia]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian Senate]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian Senate]]
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[[Category:Mayors and Lord Mayors of Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:Mayors and Lord Mayors of Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian politicians]]
[[Category:Politicians from London]]

[[Category:Australian mining businesspeople]]

[[Category:19th-century Australian engineers]]
{{Australia-politician-stub}}
[[Category:Colony of Western Australia people]]
[[Category:Hydraulic engineers]]

Latest revision as of 23:28, 22 September 2024

The Honourable
Henry Saunders
Senator for Western Australia
In office
20 May 1903 – 31 December 1903
Preceded byNorman Ewing
Personal details
Born(1855-02-16)16 February 1855
London, England
Died13 October 1919(1919-10-13) (aged 64)
West Perth, Western Australia, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Political partyFree Trade Party
OccupationCivil engineer

Henry John Saunders (16 February 1855 – 13 October 1919) was an Australian engineer, businessman and politician. He was a prominent mining entrepreneur during the Western Australian gold rush and served on the Western Australian Legislative Council (1894–1902), as mayor of Perth (1895–1898), and briefly as a Senator for Western Australia (1903).

Early life

[edit]

Saunders was born on 16 February 1855 in London, England, the son of Thomas Bush Saunders, a barrister and chief magistrate of Bradford-on-Avon,[1] and Maria Albers (née Pedder).[2] He attended Clifton College in Bristol,[3] then trained as a civil engineer.[1]

Engineering career

[edit]

Saunders immigrated to Western Australia in 1884 and settled in Perth, where he became the chief engineer of the Midland Railway Company. He subsequently went into partnership with James Barratt in the firm of Saunders and Barratt.[1]

In 1887, Saunders and Barratt developed a plan for Perth's first metropolitan water supply scheme. Their proposal envisioned a dam of 140 million gallons on Munday Brook in Canning Mills, connected by a 12-inch pipeline with the reservoir at Mount Eliza feeding in to the Perth townsite and also connecting to Fremantle. Although their proposal was initially rejected by both the Perth and Fremantle local governments, a virtually identical scheme was proceeded with a few years later and resulted in the construction of the Victoria Dam. Saunders had previous experience in hydraulic engineering and chose the design for the dam wall.[4]

Mining interests

[edit]

During the Western Australian gold rush, Saunders made a fortune as a mining entrepreneur. He floated the West Australian Goldfields Company in London in 1894 which paid a 40 percent dividend in its first year. He was also involved with the Lady Shenton and Florence mines on the Menzies goldfields.[1][5] In 1900, Saunders acquired the Leinster mine which produced 34,813 ounces of gold over the next seven years. He also acquired pastoral leases around the mine and established Leinster Downs station.[6]

Politics

[edit]

Saunders was elected to the Perth City Council in 1889 and served as mayor of Perth from 1895 to 1898. He first stood for parliament at the 1890 inaugural election for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, but was defeated in the seat of East Perth. In 1894 he was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council to a two-year term in Metropolitan Province. He was re-elected to a six-year term in 1896 but defeated for re-election in 1902.[1]

At the inaugural 1901 federal election, Saunders was an unsuccessful candidate for the Senate in Western Australia.[1] He stood on a platform that included free trade, White Australia, conciliation and arbitration, old-age pensions, and women's suffrage.[7] He placed eighth on the statewide ballot with six seats to fill,[1] and unsuccessfully petitioned for the election of Alec Matheson to be overturned on the grounds of bribery.[8]

On 20 May 1903 he was appointed to the Australian Senate as a Free Trade Senator for Western Australia, filling the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Norman Ewing. He contested the 1903 election but was unsuccessful.[9] In 1918 he returned to the Legislative Council, but he died in 1919 at St Omer's Private Hospital in West Perth.[10]

Personal life

[edit]

In 1887, Saunders married Elizabeth Shenton, the daughter of George Shenton Sr. and sister of George Shenton. Their only child died in infancy and he was widowed in 1891.[2] He remarried in 1893 to Julia Parthenia Davey, with whom he had two sons.[1]

From 1895, Saunders lived at Henley Park, a property of 5,400 acres (2,200 ha) on the Swan River north of Guildford. He bred horses, sheep, Ayrshire cattle and pigs, serving as president of the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia.[1]

He died on 13 October 1919 at the age of 64 and was interred at Karrakatta Cemetery.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rydon, Joan (2000). "Saunders, Henry John (1855–1919)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Henry John Saunders". Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Clifton College Register" Muirhead, J.A.O. p18: Bristol; J.W Arrowsmith for Old Cliftonian Society; April, 1948
  4. ^ "Nomination of Perth's First Public Water Supply Scheme" (PDF). Engineering Heritage Western Australia. 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Henry John Saunders" . History of West Australia. 1897. p. 42 – via Wikisource.
  6. ^ "The Leinster: Option Secured by Yellowdine Gold Options, N.L." The Southern Cross News. 10 January 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Trove.
  7. ^ "Advertising: Henry J Saudners MLC". West Australian Sunday Times. 24 March 1901. p. 14. Retrieved 16 January 2023 – via Trove.
  8. ^ de Garis, Brian (2000). "Matheson, Sir Alexander Perceval (1861–1929)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Vol. 1 (1901-1929). Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  9. ^ Carr, Adam. "1903 Senate election: Western Australia". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Telegrams". Geraldton Guardian. 14 October 1919. p. 3. Retrieved 15 November 2017 – via Trove.
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