Major John Mitchell PURVES (1847 - 1915)**

Date of Birth: 02/08/1847 Place of Birth: Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia Date of Death: 17/09/1915 Place of Death: Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 18 Nov 1880 26 Jan 1887 6yr(s) 2mth(s) 9day(s) Member for Clarence 18 Nov 1880 23 Nov 1882 2yr(s) 6day(s) 10th (1880 - 1882) Member for Clarence 12 Dec 1882 7 Oct 1885 2yr(s) 9mth(s) 26day(s) 11th (1882 - 1885) Member for Clarence 20 Oct 1885 26 Jan 1887 1yr(s) 3mth(s) 7day(s) 12th (1885 - 1887) Bates’s Estate Bill Committee No.19 23 Mar 1881 29 Mar 1881 7days 10th (1880 - 1882) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.6 17 Jan 1883 2 May 1883 3mths 16days 11th (1882 - 1885) Refreshment Room No.4 18 Jan 1883 2 May 1883 3mths 15days 11th (1882 - 1885) Working of the Fisheries Act of 1881 Committee No.7 30 Jan 1883 21 Apr 1883 2mths 23days 11th (1882 - 1885) Heley’s Estate Bill Committee No.14 7 Mar 1883 16 Mar 1883 10days 11th (1882 - 1885) Chairman Refreshment Room Committee No.4 10 Oct 1883 1 Nov 1884 1yr 23days 11th (1882 - 1885) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.10 16 Oct 1883 27 Feb 1884 4mths 12days 11th (1882 - 1885) Grafton Lighting Company’s Bill Committee No.24 13 Dec 1883 8 Feb 1884 1mth 27days 11th (1882 - 1885) Chairman Claim of Mr. Thomas Horton Committee No.39 26 Feb 1884 4 Jul 1884 4mths 9days 11th (1882 - 1885) Chairman The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 19 Nov 1884 19 Nov 1884 1day 11th (1882 - 1885) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 19 Nov 1884 27 Nov 1884 9days 11th (1882 - 1885) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.6 26 Nov 1884 27 Nov 1884 2days 11th (1882 - 1885) The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 17 Mar 1885 17 Mar 1885 1day 11th (1882 - 1885) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 17 Mar 1885 27 Mar 1885 11days 12th (1885 - 1887) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.5 20 Mar 1885 27 Mar 1885 8days 12th (1885 - 1887) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.4 9 Sep 1885 2 Oct 1885 24days 12th (1885 - 1887) Refreshment Room Committee No.7 24 Sep 1885 2 Oct 1885 9days 12th (1885 - 1887) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 20 Nov 1885 22 Dec 1885 1mth 3days 12th (1885 - 1887) Refreshment Committee No.5 3 Dec 1885 25 Oct 1886 10mths 23days 12th (1885 - 1887) Claim of Mr Thomas Horton Committee No.15 28 Jan 1886 10 Feb 1886 14days 12th (1885 - 1887) Chairman Bell’s Estate Bill Committee No.23 30 Mar 1886 26 May 1886 1mth 27days 12th (1885 - 1887) Bird Estate Bill Committee No.35 5 May 1886 11 Jun 1886 1mth 7days 12th (1885 - 1887) Chairman Bowenfels Coal mining and Copper Smelting Company’s Railway (Sale and Vesting) Bill Committee No.36 5 May 1886 6 Jul 1886 2mths 2days 12th (1885 - 1887)

Community Activity

Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace in 1874

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Real estate agent. Educated at William Scott's Collegeiate School and from 1866 at University of Sydney (BA 1869 and MA 1872). Journeyed to England in 1870; returned in 1871; went to Clarence River district until 1876 and became concerned with a 'wool interest'. Joined F.A Franklin in tramway contracts on South Coast in 1878. Assisted to found Sydney firm of Batt, Rodd and Purves, real estate agents; was a Director of Perpetual Trustees at least in 1887. Described as an auctioneer at death. Founder of Sydney Lancers; Major, on retirement.

Local Government Activity

Alderman of North Sydney and Mayor

Personal

Son of Reverend William Purves, Presbyterian Clergyman and Alison Inglis Adams. Married Annie Georgina Metcalfe on 27 November 1873 and had issue, 2 sons and 1 daughter. Presbyterian.

Additional Information

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