Francis Grayson

Francis Grayson (2 September 1849 – 27 July 1927) was a shopkeeper and member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

Francis Grayson JP
Members of the opposition party Queensland Parliament 1909 - Grayson is standing on the right, rear row.
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Cunningham
In office 27 August 1904 – 9 October 1920
Preceded by	Duncan Watson
Succeeded by	William Deacon
Personal details
Born	Francis Grayson 2 September 1849 Lurgan, County Armagh, Ireland
Died	27 July 1927 (aged 77) Warwick, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Warwick General Cemetery
Nationality	Irish Australian
Political party	Independent
Other political affiliations	Ministerial, Kidstonites, Opposition, Liberals, National
Spouse(s)	Jane Bell (m.1872 d.1930)
Occupation	Shopkeeper

Biography

Grayson was born at Lurgan, County Armagh, to parents John Grayson and his wife Jane (née Irwin) and educated at the Church of England School in Lurgan.[1] He left Ireland at age fourteen to come to Australia, arriving in Brisbane in 1864. Almost immediately he set out for the Darling Downs and began work at Glengallan Station which at the time was owned by the Deuchar family.[2]

In 1870 he took up a selection of his own and named it Silverwood. After five years there he moved to Warwick where he opened a general and produce store which successfully operated for the next 27 years.[2]

In 1872, Grayson married Jane Bell[3] and together had two sons and four daughters. He died in 1927[1] after suffering a short illness[2] and was buried in the Warwick General Cemetery.[4]

Political career

Grayson became an alderman on the Warwick Town Council in 1879 and, except for a three-year break was on the council until 1905. He was Mayor on three occasions - 1892, 1896, and 1904.[2][5]

At the 1904 state elections, standing as a Ministerialist, Grayson defeated the sitting member, Duncan Watson for the seat of Cunningham in the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[6] He was later a member of successive parties the Kidstonites, the Liberals, the National Party, and ended up as an Independent. He retired from his seat at the 1920 state elections.[1]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
2. Mr. Francis Grayson — Warwick Daily News. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
3. Family history research — Queensland Government births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
4. Funeral Notice — Warwick Daily News. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
5. "1847-- --1936". The Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 22 June 1936. p. 20 (CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS). Retrieved 19 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
6. Cunningham (1) — The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 14 March 2016.