Text from the book: 'The Presiding Officers of the Parliament of New South Wales', Sydney, 1995 Francis Burke was born on 27 March 1876 at Tamworth in New South Wales. As the son of Michael Burke, member of the Legislative Assembly for Tamworth from 1885 until 1887, he developed a political interest at a young age. He worked in a variety of capacities as a storeman, an office manager and in a newspaper office. It was as an employee of the Tramways that he developed an interest in the trade union movement, becoming President of the Newtown branch of the Labor Party. He married Ada Frazer in 1901 and they had two sons and three daughters. In July 1939 he joined the breakaway Industrial Labor Party (also known as the Heffron Party). Burke was the Member for Newtown from 1917 to 1920; from 1920 to 1927 he was one of five Members representing Botany; and from 1927 until his defeat in 1944 he was again elected to the Assembly for the seat of Newtown. He was Chairman of the Public Works Committee between 1925 and 1927 and in 1930 he was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Considered a hard hitting and relentless debater, Burke was a forceful political figure during the strenuous period of the Great Depression. His long experience on the floor of the House gave him an understanding for the procedural demands of the Speakership and because of the efficient manner in which he conducted business his rulings were seldom challenged. During the turbulent years of the second Lang Government Burke retained his independence, on several occasions ruling in favour of opposition members and against the Government. He died at Dulwich Hill on 17 August 1949.