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Former Member Details

Mr William Richman PIDDINGTON (1815 - 1887)

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Date of Birth: 01/01/1815
Place of Birth: London, England
Date of Death: 25/11/1887
Place of Death: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Chairman of Committees 17 Mar 1885 25 Nov 1887 2 years 8 months 9 days
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 28 Oct 1879 25 Nov 1887 8 years 29 days Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 7 October 1879
Colonial Storekeeper’s Department Committee No.22 17 Jul 1877 11 Oct 1877 2 months 25 days
Member for Hawkesbury 07 Apr 1877 12 Oct 1877 6 months 6 days
Colonial Treasurer 22 Mar 1877 16 Aug 1877 4 months 26 days
Throsby’s Leasing Act Amendment Bill Committee No.16 09 Feb 1877 16 Feb 1877 8 days
Orange Gas-Light Bill Committee No.11 21 Dec 1876 11 Jan 1877 22 days
Library Committee No.2 14 Dec 1876 11 Oct 1877 9 months 28 days
Refreshment Room No.4 14 Dec 1876 11 Oct 1877 9 months 28 days
Standing Orders Committee No.3 14 Dec 1876 11 Oct 1877 9 months 28 days
The Case of Alfred Arnold Committee No.24 16 May 1876 27 Jun 1876 1 month 12 days
Supply of Coal for Railway Purposes Committee No.16 29 Feb 1876 30 Jun 1876 4 months 2 days
Library Committee No.2 18 Nov 1875 22 Aug 1876 9 months 5 days
Standing Orders Committee No.3 18 Nov 1875 22 Aug 1876 9 months 5 days
Removal of Public Money from Bank of New South Wales Committee No.14 11 May 1875 22 Jun 1875 1 month 12 days
Library Committee No.3 31 Mar 1875 11 Aug 1875 4 months 12 days
Standing Orders Committee No.4 31 Mar 1875 11 Aug 1875 4 months 12 days
Member for Hawkesbury 28 Dec 1874 22 Mar 1877 2 years 2 months 23 days
Library Committee No.2 04 Nov 1874 26 Nov 1874 23 days
Standing Orders Committee No.3 04 Nov 1874 26 Nov 1874 23 days
Sydney Mechanics School of Arts Incorporation Bill Committee No.29 19 Mar 1874 27 Mar 1874 9 days
Library Committee No.2 10 Sep 1873 25 Jun 1874 9 months 16 days
Standing Orders Committee No.3 10 Sep 1873 25 Jun 1874 9 months 16 days
Library Committee No.3 06 Nov 1872 25 Apr 1873 5 months 20 days
Standing Orders Committee No.4 06 Nov 1872 28 Mar 1873 4 months 23 days
Customs Seizure of Goods ex ‘Ascalon’ Committee No.15 16 Jul 1872 09 Aug 1872 25 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 12 Jun 1872 13 Aug 1872 2 months 2 days
Standing Orders Committee No.4 12 Jun 1872 13 Aug 1872 2 months 2 days
Member for Hawkesbury 27 May 1872 28 Nov 1874 2 years 6 months 2 days
Colonial Treasurer 14 May 1872 04 Dec 1872 6 months 21 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 02 May 1872 10 Jul 1872 2 months 9 days
Member for Hawkesbury 07 Mar 1872 14 May 1872 2 months 8 days
Parramatta Gas Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.8 07 Dec 1871 14 Dec 1871 8 days
Library Committee No.2 15 Nov 1871 01 Feb 1872 2 months 18 days
Standing Orders Committee No.3 15 Nov 1871 01 Feb 1872 2 months 18 days
Ham Common Resumption Bill Committee No.11 14 Oct 1870 02 Nov 1870 20 days
Government Printing Office Committee No.9 13 Sep 1870 04 May 1871 7 months 22 days
Petition of Hugh Maguire Committee No.6 18 Aug 1870 07 Oct 1870 1 month 20 days
Library Committee No.2 12 Aug 1870 22 Jun 1871 10 months 11 days
Standing Orders Committee No.3 12 Aug 1870 22 Mar 1871 7 months 11 days
Alleged Losses in consequence of insecurity of Post Office at Sofala Committee No.20 25 Mar 1870 07 May 1870 1 month 13 days
Tolls on Government Bridges Committee No.19 22 Mar 1870 07 May 1870 1 month 16 days
The Bank of New South Wales Bill of 1870 Committee No.15 02 Mar 1870 15 Mar 1870 14 days
Sydney Infirmary Committee No.14 01 Mar 1870 22 Apr 1870 1 month 25 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.7 02 Feb 1870 09 Mar 1870 1 month 8 days
Library Committee No.2 02 Feb 1870 07 May 1870 3 months 6 days
Standing Orders Committee No.3 02 Feb 1870 22 Feb 1870 21 days
Member for Hawkesbury 18 Dec 1869 03 Feb 1872 2 years 1 month 17 days
Town Hall Committee No.16 10 Nov 1869 13 Nov 1869 4 days
Alleged losses in consequence of insecurity of Post Office, Sofala Committee No.13 26 Oct 1869 13 Nov 1869 19 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.6 05 Oct 1869 13 Nov 1869 1 month 9 days
Library Committee No.2 29 Sep 1869 13 Sep 1869 0 days
Standing Orders Committee No.3 29 Sep 1869 13 Nov 1869 1 month 16 days
Law relating to Lunacy Committee No.20 04 Mar 1869 24 Mar 1869 21 days
Clifts Coal Properties Leasing Bill Committee No.9 15 Jan 1869 20 Jan 1869 6 days
Duties of Master in Equity Committee No.7 12 Jan 1869 24 Feb 1869 1 month 13 days
Library Committee No.3 15 Dec 1868 03 Feb 1869 1 month 20 days
Standing Orders Committee No.5 15 Dec 1868 24 Mar 1869 3 months 10 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 13 Oct 1868 01 Apr 1869 5 months 20 days
Address to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on his visit to the Colony Committee No.21 16 Jan 1868 16 Jan 1868 1 day
Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Incorporation Act Amendment Bill Committee No.18 28 Nov 1867 04 Dec 1867 7 days
Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Incorporation Act Amendment Bill Committee No.18 28 Nov 1867 04 Dec 1867 7 days
Library Committee No.2 03 Jul 1867 27 Apr 1868 9 months 25 days
Library Committee No.2 03 Jul 1867 21 Aug 1867 1 month 19 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.5 02 Jul 1867 27 Apr 1868 9 months 26 days
St Andrew’s Cathedral Close Bill Committee No.8 02 Jul 1867 27 Apr 1868 9 months 26 days
Church of England Property Management Bill Committee No.8 16 Aug 1866 30 Aug 1866 15 days
Disease in Fruit Trees Committee No.5 31 Jul 1866 13 Sep 1866 1 month 14 days
Reserve, Lavender Bay Committee No.6 31 Jul 1866 23 Oct 1866 2 months 23 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.7 26 Jul 1866 22 Dec 1886 20 years 4 months 27 days
Standing Orders Committee No.3 25 Jul 1866 18 Mar 1867 7 months 22 days
The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 24 Jul 1866 24 Jul 1866 1 day
Reserve, Lavender Bay Committee No.16 06 Mar 1866 29 Mar 1866 24 days
Standard Weights for Agricultural Produce Committee No.10 16 Nov 1865 06 Mar 1866 3 months 19 days Chairman - 1 March 1866
Present State of the Colony Committee No.7 07 Nov 1865 28 Mar 1866 4 months 22 days
Disease in Fruit Trees Committee No.6 31 Oct 1865 07 Apr 1866 5 months 8 days
Standing Orders Committee No.3 25 Oct 1865 06 Dec 1865 1 month 12 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.5 24 Oct 1865 07 Apr 1866 5 months 15 days
Coal Wharf, Newcastle Committee No.21 15 Jun 1865 21 Jun 1865 7 days
Mortgage on the Property of the Scots Church, Sydney Committee No.18 16 May 1865 07 Jun 1865 23 days
Sydney Sewerage Committee No.17 16 May 1865 21 Jun 1865 1 month 6 days
Harbour Defences Committee No.13 02 May 1865 08 Jun 1865 1 month 7 days
Claims of Tenants of the Crown Committee No.8 14 Mar 1865 28 Apr 1865 1 month 15 days
Standing Orders Committee No.4 08 Mar 1865 21 Jun 1865 3 months 14 days
The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 27 Jan 1865 27 Jan 1865 1 day
Member for Hawkesbury 26 Nov 1864 15 Nov 1869 4 years 11 months 21 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.4 20 Oct 1864 09 Nov 1864 21 days
Standing Orders Committee No.2 19 Oct 1864 09 Nov 1864 22 days
The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 18 Oct 1864 18 Oct 1864 1 day
Claims of Tenants of the Crown Committee No.35 15 Mar 1864 20 Apr 1864 1 month 6 days
Sydney Water Reserves Committee No.31 02 Feb 1864 21 Apr 1864 2 months 20 days
Mortgage on the property of the Scots Church, Sydney – Claims of Dr Lang Committee No.23 15 Sep 1863 22 Apr 1864 7 months 8 days
Mr James K.Montgomery – Claim for Compensation Committee No.24 15 Sep 1863 22 Apr 1864 7 months 8 days
Newcastle Wallsend Coal Company Committee No.21 15 Sep 1863 22 Apr 1864 7 months 8 days
Exchange of Land, Scots Church, Jamison street, Legalizing Bill Committee No.16 04 Sep 1863 01 Apr 1864 6 months 29 days
Presbyterian College Bill Committee No.15 04 Sep 1863 06 Oct 1863 1 month 3 days
Commercial Banking Company’s Act Amendment Bill No.14 11 Aug 1863 14 Aug 1863 4 days
European Assurance Society’s Bill Committee No.12 31 Jul 1863 07 Aug 1863 8 days
Present State and Management of Lunatic Asylums No.9 14 Jul 1863 20 Apr 1864 9 months 7 days
Waratah Coal Company’s Incorporation Bill No.10 14 Jul 1863 17 Jul 1863 4 days
Penal, Reformatory, and Charitable Establishments Committee No.8 08 Jul 1863 22 Apr 1864 9 months 15 days
Harbour Defences Committee No.6 01 Jul 1863 20 Oct 1863 3 months 20 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.7 25 Jun 1863 10 Sep 1863 2 months 17 days Chairman
Standing Orders Committee No.2 24 Jun 1863 10 Dec 1863 5 months 17 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 31 Jan 1863 31 Mar 1865 2 years 2 months 1 day Chairman
Waratah Coal Company’s Incorporation Bill No.45 02 Dec 1862 11 Dec 1862 10 days
Petition of Thomas Charles Bentley Committee No.42 11 Nov 1862 20 Dec 1862 1 month 10 days
United Fire and Life Insurance Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.41 24 Oct 1862 04 Nov 1862 12 days
Mount Pleasant Tramroad Bill Committee No.36 07 Oct 1862 17 Oct 1862 11 days
Pawnbrokers Bill Committee No.35 03 Oct 1862 20 Dec 1862 2 months 18 days
Town Hall Site Exchange Bill Committee No.33 30 Sep 1862 15 Oct 1862 16 days
Exchange of Land, Scots Church, Jamison-street, legalizing Bill Committee No.24 12 Aug 1862 14 Nov 1862 3 months 3 days
Presbyterian College Bill Committee No.25 12 Aug 1862 18 Nov 1862 3 months 7 days
James Ralfe Committee No.22 05 Aug 1862 29 Aug 1862 25 days
Pitt Street Tramway Committee No.16 25 Jul 1862 12 Dec 1862 4 months 18 days Chairman, appointed on 12 December 1862
Pilot Board Committee No.9 17 Jun 1862 07 Oct 1862 3 months 21 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.6 10 Jun 1862 02 Sep 1862 2 months 24 days
Field of Mars Common Committee No.5 03 Jun 1862 26 Sep 1862 3 months 24 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.6 29 May 1862 17 Jun 1862 20 days
Standing Orders Committee No.2 28 May 1862 28 May 1862 1 day
Railway Obstruction to Gaol and Court House Reserve in the Town of Maitland Committee No.16 25 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 2 months 27 days
Pyrmont Bridge Company’s Supplementary Bill Committee No.14 18 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 3 months 3 days
Maitland and Morpeth Railway Company’s Bill Committee No.12 09 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 3 months 12 days
Mr A.E Bush Committee No.13 08 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 3 months 13 days
Maitland and Morpeth Railway Company’s Bill Committee No.12 03 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 3 months 18 days
Richmond Bridge Company’s Act Amendment Bill Committee No.11 01 Oct 1861 20 Jan 1862 3 months 21 days
Elections and Qualifications Committee No.4 06 Sep 1861 20 Jan 1862 4 months 15 days
Standing Orders Committee No.2 04 Sep 1861 20 Jan 1862 4 months 17 days
Privilege Committee No.29 04 Apr 1861 11 May 1861 1 month 8 days
Sydney Revenues Improvement Bill Committee No.25 01 Mar 1861 11 May 1861 2 months 13 days
Hosking’s Trust Bill Committee No.22 19 Feb 1861 11 May 1861 2 months 23 days
Mackenzie’s Marriage Settlement Trustees Bill Committee No.23 19 Feb 1861 11 May 1861 2 months 23 days
Light-house, near Jervis Bay Committee No.19 12 Feb 1861 11 May 1861 3 months
Working of the Insolvent Law Committee No.16 12 Feb 1861 11 May 1861 3 months
Grievances Committee No.13 29 Jan 1861 11 May 1861 3 months 13 days
Standing Orders Committee No.2 15 Jan 1861 11 May 1861 3 months 27 days
Member for Hawkesbury 17 Dec 1860 10 Nov 1864 3 years 10 months 25 days
Standing Orders Committee No.2 27 Sep 1860 09 Nov 1860 1 month 14 days
Chairman of Committees 27 Sep 1860 10 Nov 1860 1 month 15 days
Dean of St Andrew’s Sydney Committee No.36 17 Feb 1860 04 Jul 1860 4 months 18 days
Hawkesbury Benevolent Society’s Act Amendment Bill Committee No.35 16 Feb 1860 04 Jul 1860 4 months 19 days
Standing Orders Committee No.2 01 Sep 1859 04 Jul 1860 10 months 4 days
Chairman of Committees 01 Sep 1859 01 Sep 1859 1 day
Member for Hawkesbury 25 Jun 1859 10 Nov 1860 1 year 4 months 17 days
Parliamentary Accommodation Committee No.10 17 Mar 1859 09 Apr 1859 24 days
Vacant Seat – Question of Privilege Committee No.9 03 Mar 1859 09 Apr 1859 1 month 7 days
Railway to Morpeth Committee No.7 21 Dec 1858 09 Apr 1859 3 months 20 days
Library Committee No.3 10 Dec 1858 09 Apr 1859 4 months
Standing Orders Committee No.2 10 Dec 1858 09 Apr 1859 4 months
Governor General’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 09 Dec 1858 09 Dec 1858 1 day
Railway to Morpeth Committee No.31 31 Aug 1858 26 Nov 1858 2 months 27 days
University of Sydney Committee No.29 20 Jul 1858 26 Nov 1858 4 months 7 days
Landed Property in cases of Intestacy Descent Bill Committee No.25 02 Jul 1858 26 Nov 1858 4 months 25 days
State of the Magistracy Committee No.17 18 May 1858 26 Nov 1858 6 months 9 days
Management of the Survey Department Committee No.15 30 Apr 1858 26 Nov 1858 6 months 28 days
Registration and Preservation of Records Committee No.13 23 Apr 1858 26 Nov 1858 7 months 4 days
Retrenchment in the Public Expenditure Committee No.11 20 Apr 1858 26 Nov 1858 7 months 7 days
Alluvial Lands of the Hunter Committee No.10 16 Apr 1858 26 Nov 1858 7 months 11 days
Question of Privilege – Governor General’s Answer to Address on proposed dispatch of Artillery to Indi 16 Apr 1858 26 Nov 1858 7 months 11 days
Moreton Bay Judge’s Appointment Bill Committee No.6 31 Mar 1858 26 Nov 1858 7 months 27 days
Treasury Iron Chest and Accounts Committee No.4 30 Mar 1858 26 Nov 1858 7 months 28 days
Standing Orders Committee No.2 25 Mar 1858 26 Nov 1858 8 months 2 days
Governor General’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 24 Mar 1858 26 Nov 1858 8 months 3 days
Member for Northumberland and Hunter 30 Jan 1858 11 Apr 1859 1 year 2 months 13 days
University of Sydney Committee No.8 14 Jan 1858 26 Nov 1858 10 months 13 days
Treasury Iron Chest and Accounts Committee No.17 17 Nov 1857 18 Dec 1857 1 month 2 days
Alluvial Lands of the Hunter Committee No.13 30 Oct 1857 18 Dec 1857 1 month 19 days
Australian Agricultural Company’s Newcastle Railway Bill Committee No.12 30 Oct 1857 18 Dec 1857 1 month 19 days
Burwood Tramroad Continuation Act Amendment Bill Committee No.14 30 Oct 1857 18 Dec 1857 1 month 19 days Chairman
Alluvial Lands of the Hunter Committee No.27 20 Feb 1857 18 Mar 1857 27 days
Petition of Mr David Cross Committee No.24 09 Dec 1856 18 Mar 1857 3 months 10 days
Railway Terminus and Wharfs at Newcastle Committee No.25 09 Dec 1856 18 Mar 1857 3 months 10 days
Administration of Justice and Conduct of Official Business in Country Districts Committee No.20 11 Nov 1856 18 Mar 1857 4 months 8 days
Richmond Bridge Company’s Bill Committee No.18 08 Nov 1856 18 Mar 1857 4 months 11 days
Church and School Lands Committee No.11 19 Aug 1856 18 Mar 1857 7 months
Member for Northumberland and Hunter 17 Apr 1856 19 Dec 1857 1 year 8 months 3 days
Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 17 Apr 1856 12 Oct 1877 21 years 5 months 26 days
Political Party Activity
Community Activity
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Bookseller, stationer and politician. Worked in book trade in Bond Street in London as an introduction. Migrated to New South Wales in 1838. Became a farmer in Hunter River. Set up business as a bookseller and stationer. Became active in public affairs. Became a member of the council of the Anti-transportation League. Became a Director of Australasian Steam Navigation Company and Bank of New South Wales. Became a trustee of Savings Bank of New South Wales. Contributed to the rebuilding of St Marys Cathedral. In May 1872 he became Colonial Treasurer uner Sir Henry Parkes but his health broke down and he resigned office on 2nd December.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Alderman of the Sydney City Council, 1 November 1851- 9 August 1852.
Personal
Unmarried. Died from obsruction of the bowels, a complaint he had suffered from for thirty eight years. Buried in the Anglican section of Rookwood cemetery.
Additional Information
Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB), Volume 5.

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.