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Former Member Details

Mr Thomas Mitchell SHAKESPEARE (1873 - 1938)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 25/07/1873
Place of Birth: Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
Date of Death: 16/09/1938
Place of Death: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 07 Aug 1923 22 Apr 1934 10 years 8 months 16 days Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 3 August 1923. Granted retention of title of 'Honourable' for life.
Political Party Activity
Australian Labor Party (ALP), left over conscription; National.
Community Activity
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Newspaperman. Educated at Forbes public school; at age fourteen was apprenticed as a compositor, established the Condobolin Lachlander in 1894, sold out in 1902, became proprieter of Grafton Argus in 1902 - 1904; started Independent Cabling Service; secretary of New South Wales Country Press Association 1904 - 1928, president 1928 - 1929; manager of Country Press Co-operative Company of Australia Limited from 1904 - 1928, life member; Australian Provincial Press Association general secretary 1906 - 1929, 1931 - 1938, president 1929 - 1931; established Canberra Times in 1926; managing director of Federal Capital Press of Australia Limited 1929 - 1938; member of Canberra Advisory Council 1930 - 1938; foundation member and vice president of federal Capital League; member of federal Capital Territory Pastoral and Agricultural Association; commissioner of British Empire Exhibition, London 1924; trustee of Vaucluse House, South Head cemetery and Nielsen Park; Rotarian; Freemason.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Son of Thomas Shakespeare, engineer from Birmingham and Margaret Brown from Shetland Island. Married Anne Forster in 1896 at Forbes and had issue, 2 daughters and 4 sons. Presbyterian. Buried at South Head cemetery.
Additional Information

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.