Parliamentary activity
Information about members' parliamentary service including their positions held and biography.
Positions
| Position | Start | End | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moreton Bay Immigration and Land Company’s Act Amendment Bill Committee No.10 | Fri 12 October 1860 | Fri 09 November 1860 | 29 days | |
| Federation of the Australian Colonies Committee No.5 | Fri 28 September 1860 | Fri 09 November 1860 | 1 month 13 days | |
| Petition of Mr N.L Kentish Committee No.4 | Thu 27 September 1860 | Fri 09 November 1860 | 1 month 14 days | |
| Library Committee No.3 | Thu 27 September 1860 | Fri 09 November 1860 | 1 month 14 days | |
| Federation of the Australian Colonies Committee No.38 | Tue 03 April 1860 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 3 months 2 days | |
| Moreton Bay Immigration and Land Company’s Act Amendment Bill Committee No.39 | Tue 03 April 1860 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 3 months 2 days | |
| Dean of St Andrew’s Sydney Committee No.36 | Fri 17 February 1860 | Sat 10 November 1860 | 8 months 25 days | Chairman |
| Maitland Pasturage Reserve Committee No.34 | Thu 16 February 1860 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 4 months 19 days | |
| Cases of Charles Skerrett Committee No.32 | Fri 03 February 1860 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 5 months 2 days | |
| Grievances Committee No.26 | Tue 06 December 1859 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 6 months 29 days | |
| Member for East Sydney | Tue 08 November 1859 | Sat 10 November 1860 | 1 year 3 days | |
| Secretary of Lands | Thu 27 October 1859 | Thu 08 March 1860 | 4 months 11 days | |
| St Andrew’s College Bill Committee No.24 | Fri 14 October 1859 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 8 months 21 days | |
| Seat claimed by James Hoskins, Esquire, Committee No.23 | Thu 13 October 1859 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 8 months 22 days | |
| Pitt-street Tramway Bill Committee No.18 | Thu 29 September 1859 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 9 months 6 days | |
| Case of James Hibburd Committee No.16 | Fri 23 September 1859 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 9 months 12 days | |
| Case of Charles Wentworth Bucknell Committee No.17 | Fri 23 September 1859 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 9 months 12 days | |
| Church and School Lands Committee No.15 | Tue 20 September 1859 | Sat 10 November 1860 | 1 year 1 month 22 days | |
| Newcastle Wallsend Coal Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.13 | Tue 20 September 1859 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 9 months 15 days | |
| Working of the Sydney Municipal Council Committee No.12 | Tue 20 September 1859 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 9 months 15 days | |
| Alluvial Lands of the Hunter Committee No.10 | Fri 16 September 1859 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 9 months 19 days | |
| Secondary Punishment Committee No.8 | Wed 14 September 1859 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 9 months 21 days | |
| University of Sydney Committee No.5 | Tue 13 September 1859 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 9 months 22 days | |
| Elections and Qualifications Committee No.4 | Fri 02 September 1859 | Sat 10 November 1860 | 1 year 2 months 9 days | |
| Library Committee No.3 | Thu 01 September 1859 | Wed 04 July 1860 | 10 months 4 days | |
| Governor General’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 | Wed 31 August 1859 | Wed 31 August 1859 | 1 day | |
| Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly | Thu 09 June 1859 | Sat 10 November 1860 | 1 year 5 months 2 days | |
| Member for East Sydney | Thu 09 June 1859 | Wed 26 October 1859 | 4 months 18 days |
Biography
Personal information
Son of John Black. Married 1845 to the eldest daughter of Alexander Christie, Governor of Red River Settlement, Canada and had no issue. Returned to Britain in 1852, his wife dying at Torquay, Devon, in 1853. Returned to Canada in 1854, migrated to New South Wales, arriving in Sydney in September 1855. Resigned his position and returned to Scotland.
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Ship broker. Educated at the elementary English School and at the Grammar School, St Andrews. Employed as a ship-broker and commission agent, then entered a lawyer's office and not finding this to his liking became, in 1839 legal adviser to Adam Thom, first recorder of Rupert's Land, Red River Settlement, Canada. Joined the Hudson's Bay Company and became a Commissioned Officer. In 1850 was the chief trader at the Company's factory at Fort Garry. Became a Member of the Red River Settlement's Council and President of the Petty Court in 1851. For some time was a tenant of a farm belonging to John Robertson near Scone. Moved to Sydney in 1857, and became a partner in Mollison & Black, ship-brokers and commission agents, handling the movements of Chinese immigrants. Was Chairman of the Land League (which was pressing for a thorough reform in the administration of the land system) in 1856, at the inception of responsible government for New South Wales; soon after, was asked to stand for Parliament. The aims of the Land League, together with an elective Upper House, railway extension, retrenchment in the government's expenses, reform of the immigration system, and a National system of education, formed the basis of his policies. With James Martin, Henry Parkes and Charles Cowper, was elected for East Sydney on 9 June 1859.
Black became Secretary for Lands in William Forster's administration from 27 October 1859 to 8 March 1860. Did not seek re-election after the dissolution of Parliament in November 1860 and returned to Scotland in 1862. Went to Canada again where he was appointed recorder of Rupert's Land until 1870, when the province of Manitoba was created. Was a member of the delegation of Red River settlers to Ottawa in 1870.
Additional information
References: Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 3