James Lalor

James Lalor (1829–1922) was a politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and a Member of the Queensland Legislative Council.

For the Irish revolutionary and journalist, see James Fintan Lalor.

The Hon James Lalor
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Maranoa
In office 5 December 1878 – 12 May 1888
Preceded by	Thomas McIlwraith
Succeeded by	Robert Dunsmure
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
In office 23 August 1888 – 11 August 1921
Personal details
Born	James Lalor (1829-07-07)7 July 1829 Ballybrittas, Queen's County Ireland
Died	16 February 1922(1922-02-16) (aged 92) Roma, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Roma General Cemetery
Nationality	Irish
Spouse(s)	Helen Gorry
Occupation	Squatter

Early life

James Lalor was born on 7 July 1829 in Ballybrittas, Queen's County, Ireland, the son of William Lalor and his wife Eliza (née Connor).[1]

Aged 11 years, James Lalor immigrated with his parents to New South Wales where the family lived in Maitland and Carroll before taking up the Bengalla pastoral station on the Severn River near Goondiwindi in 1852. He worked with his family on Bengalla station, until 1860, when he established a pastoral station Gubberamunda (an Aboriginal word meaning little hills) with his brother in the Bungil Creek area. Initially they ran sheep on the Gubberamunda, but later switched to cattle as they did better on the available grass.[2]

Politics

James Lalor was a friend and admirer of Thomas McIlwraith, who persuaded Lalor to stand for election to the Queensland Parliament.[2]

On 5 December 1878 at the 1878 colonial election, James Lalor was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in the electoral district of Maranoa. In the 1883 election, he successfully retained the seat against opponent Herbert Hunter. He held the seat until 12 May 1888, when he chose not to contest the 1888 election.[2][3]

On 23 August 1888, Lalor was appointed a lifetime Member of the Queensland Legislative Council. However, he resigned from the Council on 11 August 1921 due to failing health at age 92.[2][3]

Lalor served as a councillor on the Bungil Divisional Board for many years and served as chairman in 1895.[4] He also served as alderman in the Roma Town Council.[2]

Later life

Lalor died on 16 February 1922 at his residence Mollin, Roma. Being a Roman Catholic, his funeral took place in the Sacred Heart Church in Roma on 18 February 1922.[1][2] He was buried in Roma General Cemetery with his wife Helen whom he had married in 1869.[5][6]

See also

• Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1878–1883; 1883–1888
• Members of the Queensland Legislative Council, 1880–1889; 1890–1899; 1900–1909; 1910–1916; 1917–1922

References

1. "Lalor, James". Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
2. "DEATH OF HON. JAMES LALOR". Western Star and Roma Advertiser (Toowoomba, Qld. : 1875 – 1948). Toowoomba, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 18 February 1922. p. 2. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
3. "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 28 April 2014.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
4. "Bungil Divisional Board". Western Star and Roma Advertiser (Toowoomba, Qld. : 1875 – 1948). Toowoomba, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 2 March 1895. p. 2. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
5. Historical marriage searches – Queensland births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
6. "Inscription for James Lalor". Australian Cemetery Index. Retrieved 29 April 2014.

Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Thomas McIlwraith	Member for Maranoa 1878–1888	Succeeded by Robert Dunsmure