Harold Finch-Hatton
Harold Heneage Finch-Hatton (23 August 1856 – 16 May 1904) was an English politician and Australian federationist.
Early life
Finch-Hatton was born in Eastwell Park, Kent, England,[1] the fourth son of George Finch-Hatton, 10th Earl of Winchilsea and his wife Fanny Margaretta, daughter of Edward Royd Rice of Dane Court, Kent. He was educated at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford, and at 19 years of age went to Queensland to visit his brother Henry Finch-Hatton.[1] He took up land in the Mackay district and later worked on the Nebo goldfields. Returning to England in 1883 he published in 1885 an account of his travels Advance Australia! (2nd ed. 1886).[2] It is written in an entertaining way, but his statements about the Aborigines and his views on Australian politicians must be accepted with caution.[3]
Politics
Finch-Hatton was an unsuccessful candidate for the British House of Commons in 1885, 1886 and 1892, but was returned as a Conservative for Newark in 1895. He resigned in 1898 on account of disagreement with the policy of his party of making concessions made to the Liberal Unionists.[1] He was one of the founders of the Imperial Federation League, and when the North Queensland Separation League was formed he was appointed chairman of the London committee. He also worked for the development of the Pacific route to Australia, and was secretary to the Pacific Telegraph Company for the formation of a line from Vancouver Island to Australia.
Later life
He died suddenly of heart failure at London on 16 May 1904.[1][2] He was buried in Ewerby, Lincolnshire.[4]
He was unmarried.[3]
Legacy
The town of Finch Hatton, Queensland in Australia is believed to be named after him.[5]
Publications
- Finch-Hatton, Harold (1886), Advance Australia! : an account of eight years' work, wandering, and amusement, in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria (2nd ed.), W.H. Allen — available online
References
- 1 2 3 4 D. P. Crook, David Denholm (1972). "Finch-Hatton, Harold Heneage (1856 - 1904)". Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 4. MUP. p. 168. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
- 1 2 "Family Notices.". The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946). Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 21 May 1904. p. 36. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- 1 2 Serle, Percival (1949). "Finch-Hatton, Harold Heneage". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. Retrieved 2008-10-05.
- ↑
Norgate, Gerald le Grys (1912). "Finch-Hatton, Harold Heneage". In Lee, Sidney. Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement. London: Smith, Elder & Co. - ↑ "Finch Hatton (entry 12437)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Harold Finch-Hatton
- G. Le G. Norgate, rev. H. C. G. Matthew. "Hatton, Harold Heneage Finch- (1856–1904)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33131. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Viscount Newark |
Member of Parliament for Newark 1895 – 1898 |
Succeeded by Viscount Newark |