Edward McEllister (c. 1809 – 12 May 1866) was a politician in the early days of the Colony of South Australia.

History edit

McEllister emigrated from Ireland, perhaps Tipperary[1] arriving in December 1839 aboard Delhi and served as a mounted policeman stationed for a time at Port Lincoln, then some time before 1845 took up business in Rundle Street, Adelaide, which proved lucrative, and he retired in 1850.[2]

McEllister was a member of the Legislative Assembly for the district of Yatala from March 1860 to November 1862.[3] He failed to be re-elected due to his support for compulsory Bible studies in State schools. He served in the Legislative Council from 1865 until his death the following year.[3] He was survived by a widow, two sons and a daughter.[4]

Family edit

McEllister married Mary Sheridan (c. 1811 – 23 July 1893); they had three surviving children:

  • Susan Mary McEllister (1840 – 20 May 1887) married Hampton Carroll Gleeson (1834–1907) on 15 November 1860. They had five sons and two daughters.
  • Robert McEllister (c. 1842 – 13 January 1891)
  • Thomas Edward McEllister (c. 1845 – 19 November 1886) married Norah Teresa O'Leary of Wirrabara on 8 January 1879. They had no children. A commission agent and share dealer, he was convicted of forgery in February 1868 and sentenced to two years' hard labor.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Local intelligence". South Australian Register. 9 April 1850. p. 3. Retrieved 1 September 2014 – via Trove.
  2. ^ "Advertising". South Australian Register. 12 July 1850. p. 2. Retrieved 1 September 2014 – via Trove.
  3. ^ a b "Edward McEllister". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Topics of the Week". South Australian Weekly Chronicle. 19 May 1866. p. 2. Retrieved 1 September 2014 – via Trove.
  5. ^ "Heads of Intelligence". The Express and Telegraph. 2 March 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 19 December 2019 – via Trove.