Sir Austin Chapman KCMG (10 July 1864 – 12 January 1926), Australian politician, was a member of several early federal ministries. He was born in Bong Bong near Bowral, New South Wales and educated at Marulan Public School and was apprenticed as a saddler at an early age. In about 1884 he went into business as a publican, storekeeper and auctioneer in Queanbeyan, and later became an investor and company director.
In 1894 he was elected to the New...
more
Sir Austin Chapman KCMG (10 July 1864 – 12 January 1926), Australian politician, was a member of several early federal ministries. He was born in Bong Bong near Bowral, New South Wales and educated at Marulan Public School and was apprenticed as a saddler at an early age. In about 1884 he went into business as a publican, storekeeper and auctioneer in Queanbeyan, and later became an investor and company director.
In 1894 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as MLA for Braidwood. Like most politicians from the southern border regions of New South Wales, he was an active supporter of federation of the Australian colonies.
In 1901 Chapman was elected to the first House of Representatives as MP for the Division of Eden-Monaro. A Protectionist, he was Minister for Defence in the first ministry of Alfred Deakin (1903-05), Postmaster-General in the second Deakin ministry (1905-08), and Minister for Trade and Customs from 1907-08. After a long period on the backbench as...
less
