John Panton (politician)

John Panton (29 October 1815 – 2 September 1866) was a politician in Australia. He was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council,[1] and a Member of the Queensland Legislative Council.[2]

For the Welsh politician, see John Panton (MP).

John Panton
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
In office June 1843 – June 1849
Constituency	Counties of Cook and Westmoreland
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
In office 22 February 1866 – 2 September 1866
Personal details
Born	John Panton (1815-10-29)29 October 1815 North Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
Died	2 September 1866(1866-09-02) (aged 50) Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Ipswich General Cemetery
Nationality	Scottish Australian
Spouse(s)	Isabella Frederica North (m.1842 d.1880)
Occupation	Businessman, magistrate

Early life

John Panton was born on 29 October 1815 in North Leith, Midlothian, Scotland, the son of George (Baillie) Panton and his wife Maria Kerr. In 1818, the family immigrated to New South Wales on the General Stewart. His father became the Postmaster-General of New South Wales.[3][4]

Business life

In about 1840, he established a merchant business, Betts & Panton, with John Betts (who had married John Panton's sister Margaret); they conducted business in Windsor and Sydney.[1] In 1842, he married Isabella Frederica North at Windor; they had seven sons and five daughters. He toured the Moreton Bay district of New South Wales and decided that there were good opportunities there. In 1851 he relocated to Ipswich and established a mercantile business in Brisbane Street. In 1858, he commissioned a large residence called Claremont, but a downturn in his finances forced him to sell it in 1863 to George Thorn (senior).[3] In 1865 the family built another house also called Claremont at 5 Blackall Street, East Ipswich.[5]

He was a trustee of the Ipswich Grammar School.[4]

Politics

Panton was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council representing the Counties of Cook and Westmoreland on 1 June 1843; he held that role until 20 June 1848.[1][6]

Panton was appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council on 22 February 1866 and served until his death on 2 September 1866.[2]

Later life

John Panton died in Ipswich on 2 September 1866 at his home (the second Claremont) from apoplexy.[4] He was buried in Ipswich General Cemetery.[7]

Legacy

There is a memorial tablet for John Panton in St Pauls Anglican Church.[8]

His residence (the first) Claremont is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.[9]

References

1. "Mr John Panton (1815–1866)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
2. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
3. "Claremont" (PDF). Ipswich City Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
4. "The late Mr Panton of Ipswhich". The Queenslander. 8 September 1866. p. 6. Retrieved 25 May 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "Great Houses of Ipswich 2014, Claremont II". nationaltrust.org.au. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
6. "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 24 May 2015.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
7. General Section Archived 23 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine – Australian Cemeteries. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
8. "John Panton". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
9. "Claremont (entry 600589)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.

Further reading

• Munro, Jacquelyn (2008), The Honourable John Panton M.L.C. (27.11.1815–2.9.1866), head of a Queensland founding family before separation from NSW in 1859