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Member Details

Mr Richard WINDEYER (1806 - 1847)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 10/08/1806
Place of Birth: London, England
Date of Death: 02/12/1847
Place of Death: Launceston, Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), Australia
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 01 Jun 1843 02 Dec 1847 4 years 6 months 2 days An Elective Member of the first Legislative Council 1843 - 1856 for the County of Durham
Political Party Activity
Community Activity
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Lawyer (barrister); journalist; agriculturist. Remained in England when in 1828 his parents with the rest of their family migrated to New South Wales. Was admitted as a student in the Middle Temple in March 1829 and called to the Bar on 23 May 1834. Became a journalist and parliamentary reporter and assisted in compiling the 'Parliamentary Pocket Companion'. Departed England for New South Wales with his wife and infant son, arriving in Sydney on 28 November 1835. gained a considerable practice as a barrister of superior abilities and eloquence. Purchased 30,000 acres of land in the Hunter Valley. As a believer in free trade and the representative of an agricultural county, Windeyer worked to open the Van Diemen's Land market to tobacco from New South Wales and the United Kingdom market to the colony's wheat. Always intersted in education, set up a school on his estate. Was a member of the committees of the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts and the Australian School Society, and was prominent in the education debates. Was interested in law reform, and in 1844 introduced a bill to amend the jury laws of New South Wales. Member of the Aborigines Protection Society and appeared in the trials arising from the 'Myall Creek Massacre' and supported proposals that aboriginal people should be allowed to make unsworn statements in court rather than take an oath. Showed concern for social welfare by his membership of the New South Wales Temperance Society, of the committee of the Benevolent Society and as first president of the Debating Society. Conflicted with Governor Gipps and died impoverished.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of Charles Windeyer, Magistrate, and his wife Ann Mary Rudd. Married on 26 April 1832 in England to Maria Camfield, daughter of William Camfield of Groombridge Place and Burswood, Kent, England, and had issue 1 son, (Sir) William Charles Windeyer (1834 - 1897), who became a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
Additional Information
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2. A portrait bust is in Parliament House, Sydney.