Fergus Jago Smith (8 June 1843 – 25 January 1924) was an Australian politician and pastoralist.

Early life edit

He was born at Gulgong to John Smith, a chemistry professor and later politician, and Mary née Tom,[1][a] the eldest of 11 children.[3] He attended The King's School in Parramatta, and after a world tour worked on his father's station at Molong and then on another station near Bathurst which he later owned.

Political career edit

In 1887 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the Free Trade member for West Macquarie. He did not re-contest in 1889. In 1895 he was appointed to the New South Wales Legislative Council,[4] where he remained until his death. He was a brother-in-law to fellow politicians Charles Barton and Sir Joseph Innes.[1]

Personal life edit

Smith married Emily Grace Machattie on 25 January 1866. They had no children,[3] but adopted a daughter, Violet Kathleen Marion,[5] who married Lieutenant-Colonel Chetwynd Rokeby Alfred Bond, who served in the Indian Staff Corps.[6] Smith died at Bathurst on 25 January 1924(1924-01-25) (aged 80),[3] and his estate was valued at £76,810.[5]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Different locations are given for his place of birth, with his parliamentary biography and Obituaries Australia entry listing it as Gulgong,[1][2] while his obituary in The Sydney Morning Herald gives it as Molong.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Mr Fergus Jago Smith (1843-1924)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Smith, Fergus Jago (1843–1924)". Obituaries Australia. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Obituary Mr F J Smith MLC". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 January 1924. p. 10. Retrieved 19 May 2021 – via Trove.
  4. ^ "Summons to the Legislative Council". New South Wales Government Gazette. No. 528. 8 August 1895. p. 5075. Retrieved 19 May 2021 – via Trove.
  5. ^ a b "Wealthy MLC" late Mr F Jago Smith". The Sun. 22 April 1924. p. 10. Retrieved 19 May 2021 – via Trove.
  6. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 19, 281. New South Wales, Australia. 29 December 1899. p. 1. Retrieved 19 May 2021 – via Trove.

 

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for West Macquarie
1887–1889
Succeeded by