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Mr William MCCOURT (1851 - 1913)

Date of Birth: 01/03/1851 Place of Birth: County Monaghan, Ireland Date of Death: 22/06/1913 Place of Death: Berrima, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Parliament Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 2 Dec 1882 22 Jun 1913 30yr(s) 6mth(s) 21day(s) Member for Camden 2 Dec 1882 7 Oct 1885 2yr(s) 10mth(s) 6day(s) 11th (1882 - 1885) Member for Camden 11 Feb 1887 19 Jan 1889 1yr(s) 11mth(s) 9day(s) 13th (1887 - 1889) Member for Camden 9 Feb 1889 6 Jun 1891 2yr(s) 3mth(s) 29day(s) 14th (1889 - 1891) Member for Camden 20 Jun 1891 25 Jun 1894 3yr(s) 6day(s) 15th (1891 - 1894) Member for Bowral 17 Jul 1894 4 Feb 1895 6mth(s) 19day(s) 16th (1894 - 1895) Member for Bowral 13 Feb 1895 5 Jul 1895 4mth(s) 23day(s) 16th (1894 - 1895) Member for Bowral 19 Jul 1895 8 Jul 1898 2yr(s) 11mth(s) 20day(s) 17th (1895 - 1898) Member for Bowral 27 Jul 1898 11 Jun 1901 2yr(s) 10mth(s) 16day(s) 18th (1898 - 1901) Member for Bowral 22 Jun 1901 16 Jul 1904 3yr(s) 25day(s) 19th (1901 - 1904) Member for Wollondilly 6 Aug 1904 19 Aug 1907 3yr(s) 14day(s) 20th (1904 - 1907) Member for Wollondilly 10 Sep 1907 14 Sep 1910 3yr(s) 5day(s) 21st (1907 - 1910) Member for Wollondilly 14 Oct 1910 22 Jun 1913 2yr(s) 8mth(s) 9day(s) 22nd (1910 - 1913) Chairman of Committees 3 Aug 1894 23 Dec 1899 5yr(s) 4mth(s) 21day(s) Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 13 Jun 1900 14 Nov 1910 10yr(s) 5mth(s) 2day(s) Kiama Tramway Bill Committee No.5 23 Jan 1883 23 Feb 1883 1mth 1day 11th (1882 - 1885) Claims of Immigrants by ship “Northampton” Committee No.7 16 Oct 1883 1 Nov 1884 1yr 17days 11th (1882 - 1885) Appraisements of Town Lots of Temora Committee No.13 25 Oct 1883 2 Apr 1884 5mths 9days 11th (1882 - 1885) Victorian Coal Mining Company’s Bill Committee No.38 26 Feb 1884 25 Apr 1884 2mths 11th (1882 - 1885) Victorian Coal-mining Company’s Bill (No2) Committee No.45 30 Apr 1884 10 Jun 1884 1mth 12days 11th (1882 - 1885) Mittagong Coal Mining Company’s Railway Act Amendment Bill Committee No.23 18 May 1887 8 Jun 1887 22days 13th (1887 - 1889) Grafton School of Arts Trustees Enabling Bill Committee No.31 25 Nov 1887 14 Dec 1887 20days 13th (1887 - 1889) Toronto Tramway Bill Committee No.7 4 Apr 1889 11 Apr 1889 8days 14th (1889 - 1891) Illawarra Harbour and Land Corporation Bill Committee No.9 11 Apr 1889 5 Jun 1889 1mth 26days 14th (1889 - 1891) Selections by John Harrison, of Lismore Committee No.25 19 Jul 1889 23 Jul 1889 5days 14th (1889 - 1891) Illawarra Harbour and Land Corporation Bill Committee No.6 3 Dec 1889 17 Dec 1889 15days 14th (1889 - 1891) St Leonard’s School of Arts Enabling Bill Committee No.10 1 May 1890 6 May 1890 6days 14th (1889 - 1891) Willoughby and Gordon Tramway Act Amending Bill Committee No.13 13 May 1890 20 May 1890 8days 15th (1891 - 1894) Wagga Wagga Cattle Sale yards Bill Committee No.19 24 Jun 1890 14 Aug 1890 1mth 22days 14th (1889 - 1891) Borough of Willoughby Naming Bill Committee No.24 17 Jul 1890 22 Jul 1890 6days 14th (1889 - 1891) Calaghan’s Conditional Purchases, Braidwood and Queanbeyan Committee No.32 9 Sep 1890 30 Oct 1890 1mth 22days 14th (1889 - 1891) Broken Hill Water Works Bill Committee No.33 16 Sep 1890 20 Dec 1890 3mths 5days 14th (1889 - 1891) Forfeiture of Henry Crowe’s Conditional Purchase, county of Harden Committee No.39 4 Nov 1890 12 Dec 1890 1mth 9days 14th (1889 - 1891) Forfeited Selection of J.J Ray Committee No.44 2 Dec 1890 20 Dec 1890 19days 14th (1889 - 1891) Conditional Purchase made by Maurice Bush, District Urana Committee No.46 16 Dec 1890 20 Dec 1890 5days 14th (1889 - 1891) Case of Staff Sergeant W.Jiffkins Committee No.13 24 Apr 1891 9 May 1894 3yrs 16days 16th (1894 - 1895) The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 19 May 1891 19 May 1891 1day 15th (1891 - 1894) Forfeiture of J.J Ray’s selection in the Land District of Wagga Wagga Committee No.22 29 Sep 1891 9 Dec 1891 2mths 11days 14th (1889 - 1891) Watkins Wallis Trust Estate Bill Committee No.26 15 Dec 1891 22 Dec 1891 8days 15th (1891 - 1894) Broken Hill Water Supply Act Amendment Bill Committee No.32 1 Feb 1892 17 Feb 1892 17days 15th (1891 - 1894) Conditional purchase by Zachary Benn, Richmond River District Committee No.34 1 Feb 1892 22 Feb 1892 22days 15th (1891 - 1894) Refreshment Committee No.7 5 Oct 1892 18 Oct 1892 14days 15th (1891 - 1894) Hillgrove and Armidale Water-power Electric Bill Committee No.4 5 Oct 1892 1 Nov 1892 28days 15th (1891 - 1894) Vice Suppression Bill Committee No.11 25 Oct 1892 18 Oct 1892 15th (1891 - 1894) Simpson’s Railway Bill Committee No.12 16 Nov 1892 21 Dec 1892 1mth 6days 15th (1891 - 1894) Oxford street Improvement Bill Committee No.13 16 Nov 1892 13 Jun 1893 6mths 29days 15th (1891 - 1894) Menindie Irrigation Bill Committee No.21 23 Feb 1893 22 Mar 1893 28days 15th (1891 - 1894) Calaghan’s Conditional Purchases, Braidwood and Queanbeyan Committee No.22 1 Mar 1893 2 Mar 1893 2days 15th (1891 - 1894) Claim of James Guihen, of Broger’s Creek Committee No.28 7 Jun 1893 13 Jun 1893 7days 15th (1891 - 1894) Refreshment Committee No.5 27 Sep 1893 8 Dec 1893 2mths 12days 15th (1891 - 1894) Corowa School of Arts Enabling Bill Committee No.9 24 Oct 1893 8 Dec 1893 1mth 15days 15th (1891 - 1894) Application of Mr J.F Connelly to Mine in the Parish of Currajong Committee No.12 28 Nov 1893 8 Dec 1893 11days 15th (1891 - 1894) Refreshment Committee No.5 23 Jan 1894 11 Jun 1894 4mths 20days 16th (1894 - 1895) Oxford street Improvement Bill Committee No.8 25 Jan 1894 13 Feb 1894 20days 16th (1894 - 1895) Bankruptcy Act Amendment Bill Committee No.7 25 Jan 1894 5 Jun 1894 4mths 12days 16th (1894 - 1895) Children’s Protection Act Amendment Bill Committee No.9 20 Feb 1894 5 Jun 1894 3mths 17days 16th (1894 - 1895) Working of Collieries Committee No.11 13 Mar 1894 19 Apr 1894 1mth 7days 16th (1894 - 1895) Chairman Application of Mr J.F Connelly to Mine in the Parish of Currajong Committee No.10 13 Mar 1894 1 May 1894 1mth 19days 16th (1894 - 1895) Homestead Protection Bill Committee No.12 3 Apr 1894 18 Apr 1894 16days 16th (1894 - 1895) The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 28 Aug 1894 28 Aug 1894 1day 16th (1894 - 1895) Refreshment Committee No. 4 29 Aug 1894 4 Feb 1895 5mths 7days 16th (1894 - 1895) Selection made by James Connolly, at Tamworth. Committee No 6 4 Sep 1894 4 Feb 1895 5mths 1day 16th (1894 - 1895) Refreshment. Committee No. 4 20 Aug 1895 8 Jul 1898 2yrs 10mths 19days 17th (1895 - 1898) Standing Orders. Committee No. 2 20 Aug 1895 8 Jul 1898 2yrs 10mths 19days 17th (1895 - 1898) Holt’s Wingello Estate Bill. Committee No. 6 12 Sep 1895 8 Jul 1898 2yrs 9mths 27days 17th (1895 - 1898) Standing Orders Committee No.2 14 May 1896 16 Nov 1896 6mths 3days 17th (1895 - 1898) Standing Orders Committee No.2 28 Apr 1897 18 Aug 1897 3mths 22days 17th (1895 - 1898) Standing Orders Committee No. 2 28 Jun 1898 8 Jul 1898 11days 17th (1895 - 1898) Standing Orders Committee No. 3 25 Aug 1898 23 Dec 1898 3mths 29days 18th (1898 - 1901) Standing Orders Committee No.1 21 Feb 1899 30 Mar 1899 1mth 10days 18th (1898 - 1901) Standing Orders Committee No.2 13 Apr 1899 21 Apr 1899 9days 18th (1898 - 1901) Standing Orders Committee No.4 8 Aug 1899 23 Dec 1899 4mths 16days 18th (1898 - 1901) Standing Orders Committee No.4 20 Jun 1900 24 Jul 1900 1mth 5days 18th (1898 - 1901) Chairman Library Committee No.5 20 Jun 1900 28 Nov 1900 5mths 9days 18th (1898 - 1901) Refreshment Committee No.3 20 Jun 1900 5 Dec 1900 5mths 16days 18th (1898 - 1901) Refreshment Committee No.6 8 Aug 1901 20 Dec 1901 4mths 13days 19th (1901 - 1904) Standing Orders Committee No.5 8 Aug 1901 20 Dec 1901 4mths 13days 19th (1901 - 1904) Chairman Library Committee No.4 8 Aug 1901 20 Dec 1901 4mths 13days 19th (1901 - 1904) Refreshment Committee No.5 17 Jun 1902 20 Dec 1902 6mths 4days 19th (1901 - 1904) Library Committee No.3 17 Jun 1902 20 Dec 1902 6mths 4days 19th (1901 - 1904) Refreshment Committee No.6 1 Jul 1903 1 Dec 1903 5mths 1day 19th (1901 - 1904) Library Committee No.5 1 Jul 1903 1 Dec 1903 5mths 1day 19th (1901 - 1904) Standing Orders Committee No.4 1 Jul 1903 1 Dec 1903 5mths 1day 19th (1901 - 1904) Standing Orders Committee No.3 21 Sep 1904 9 Nov 1904 1mth 20days 19th (1901 - 1904) Chairman Refreshment Committee No.5 21 Sep 1904 24 Dec 1904 3mths 4days 19th (1901 - 1904) Chairman Library Committee No.4 21 Sep 1904 24 Dec 1904 3mths 4days 19th (1901 - 1904) Standing Orders Committee No.3 23 Jun 1905 9 Dec 1905 5mths 17days 20th (1904 - 1907) Refreshment Committee No.5 28 Jun 1905 9 Dec 1905 5mths 12days 20th (1904 - 1907) Library Committee No.4 28 Jun 1905 9 Dec 1905 5mths 12days 20th (1904 - 1907) Refreshment Committee No.4 10 Jul 1906 18 Dec 1906 5mths 9days 20th (1904 - 1907) Standing Orders Committee No.3 10 Jul 1906 18 Dec 1906 5mths 9days 20th (1904 - 1907) Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 10 Jul 1906 18 Dec 1906 5mths 9days 20th (1904 - 1907) Refreshment Committee No.5 9 Jul 1907 12 Jul 1907 4days 20th (1904 - 1907) Library Committee No.3 9 Jul 1907 12 Jul 1907 4days 20th (1904 - 1907) Standing Orders Committee No.4 9 Jul 1907 12 Jul 1907 4days 20th (1904 - 1907) Refreshment Committee No.5 24 Oct 1907 20 Dec 1907 1mth 27days 21st (1907 - 1910) Library Committee No.3 24 Oct 1907 20 Dec 1907 1mth 27days 21st (1907 - 1910) Standing Orders Committee No.2 24 Oct 1907 20 Dec 1907 1mth 27days 21st (1907 - 1910) Library Committee No.3 13 Mar 1908 11 Apr 1908 30days 21st (1907 - 1910) Standing Orders Committee No.2 13 Mar 1908 11 Apr 1908 30days 21st (1907 - 1910) Refreshment Committee No.4 13 Mar 1908 11 Apr 1908 30days 21st (1907 - 1910) Refreshment Committee No.5 5 Aug 1908 19 Dec 1908 4mths 15days 21st (1907 - 1910) Library Committee No.4 5 Aug 1908 19 Dec 1908 4mths 15days 21st (1907 - 1910) Standing Orders Committee No.3 5 Aug 1908 19 Dec 1908 4mths 15days 21st (1907 - 1910) Refreshment Committee No.5 14 Jul 1909 17 Dec 1909 5mths 4days 21st (1907 - 1910) Library Committee No.4 14 Jul 1909 17 Dec 1909 5mths 4days 21st (1907 - 1910) Standing Orders Committee No.3 14 Jul 1909 17 Dec 1909 5mths 4days 21st (1907 - 1910) Standing Orders Committee No.3 28 Jun 1910 20 Aug 1910 1mth 24days 21st (1907 - 1910) Refreshment Committee No.5 28 Jun 1910 20 Aug 1910 1mth 24days 21st (1907 - 1910) Library Committee No.4 28 Jun 1910 20 Aug 1910 1mth 24days 21st (1907 - 1910) Standing Orders Committee No.3 30 Nov 1910 23 Dec 1910 24days 22nd (1910 - 1913) Standing Orders Committee No.3 30 May 1911 1 Aug 1911 2mths 3days 22nd (1910 - 1913) Warwick Farm Railway Act Extension Bill Committee No.7 31 May 1911 14 Jun 1911 15days 22nd (1910 - 1913) Operations of the Australian Jockey Club Committee No.8 13 Jun 1911 1 Aug 1911 1mth 20days 22nd (1910 - 1913) Standing Orders Committee No.3 12 Sep 1911 28 Mar 1912 6mths 17days 22nd (1910 - 1913) Totalisator Bill Committee No.19 31 Oct 1911 28 Mar 1912 4mths 27days 22nd (1910 - 1913) Operations of the Australian Jockey Club Committee No.22 20 Feb 1912 28 Mar 1912 1mth 9days 22nd (1910 - 1913) Standing Orders Committee No.3 7 Aug 1912 5 Dec 1912 3mths 29days 22nd (1910 - 1913) City Tattersalls Club Committee No.9 13 Sep 1912 19 Sep 1912 7days 22nd (1910 - 1913) Parliamentary Accommodation Committee No.14 8 Nov 1912 5 Dec 1912 28days 22nd (1910 - 1913)

Community Activity

Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace in 1896.

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Newspaper proprieter and land speculator. Arrived in New South Wales with parents in 1852. Educated at Wollongong Public School. Employed in an office and was then apprenticed as a printer. Speculated successfully in land in New South Wales and Western Australia. Chairman of Intercolonial Land and Investment Company from 1887 until 1913. Director of Berrima District Butter Company. Bankrupt in 1895. Commissioner of Chicago Exposition in 1893. Vice President of Berrima District Hospital. Keen sportsman. Freemason. Lived at Berrima and late in life moved to Sydney.

Local Government Activity

Alderman at Vaucluse from 1908 until 1911.

Personal

Son of James McCourt, farmer and Bridget Galbraith. Married Emily Elizabeth in 1882 and had issue, 3 daughters and 3 sons. Church of England.

Additional Information

Personal papers in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales: 1. William McCourt - letter received from Edward Lloyd Jones congratulating McCourt on his appointment as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales, 1900 (MLMSS 6779); photographs in the PICMAN Database. 2. William McCourt - letters received, 1886, 1907 (MLDOC 2934). Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10 Text from the book: 'The Presiding Officers of the Parliament of New South Wales', Sydney, 1995

William McCourt was born March 1851 in Ireland and emigrated to Australia with his parents in 1852 where they settled at Wollongong. Apprenticed as a printer, he began his own newspaper, the Moss Vale Scrutineer in 1874 but in 1886 he sold his newspaper interests and became heavily involved in land speculation. He married Emily Elizabeth Galbraith in 1882 and they had three sons and three daughters. One son, William Rupert McCourt, was Clerk of the Legislative Assembly from 1930 to 1947. William McCourt was the Member for Camden in the Legislative Assembly from 1882 until 1885 and again from 1887 until 1894, when he was elected as the Member for Bowral. He held that seat until 1904 when he successfully contested the seat of Wollondilly. As Chairman of Committees from 1894 until 1900 he earned a reputation for impartiality that distinguished him as an ideal candidate for the Speakership. Consequently his nomination for the office of Speaker in 1900 went without challenge. As Speaker of the Legislative Assembly between 1900 and 1910, McCourt's impartiality was met with support from all sides of the House. An advocate of free speech, McCourt actively sought to stimulate debate and he refrained from constraining Members through the Standing Orders and points of order. He died on 22 June 1913 in Sydney.

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