John Henry Dunsford (3 July 1855 – 15 September 1905) was a miner and member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

John Dunsford
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Charters Towers
In office
13 May 1893 – 15 Sep 1905
Preceded byArthur Rutledge
Succeeded byWilliam Paull
Personal details
Born
John Henry Dunsford

(1855-07-03)3 July 1855
Maldon, Victoria, Australia
Died15 September 1905(1905-09-15) (aged 50)
Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australia
Resting placeCunnamulla Cemetery
Political partyLabour
SpouseMaria McDonough (m.1882 d.1945)
OccupationMiner

Early days

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Dunsford was born in Maldon, Victoria, to parents John Holman Dunsford and his wife Mary (née Harding).[1] and educated at Maldon State School. By 1873 he was in Queensland and getting pastoral experience and in 1876 he headed overseas to work as a goldminer in Madagascar and the South African Republic.[1]

By 1878 he was back in Australia and working in Charters Towers as a stationer and finally in 1892 he went back to mining for a year, speculating on the goldfields in the area.[1]

Political career

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After spending time as a councilor at Charters Towers, Dunsford, standing for the Labour Party, won the seat of Charters Towers in the Queensland Legislative Assembly. He held the seat for over twelve years until his death in 1905.[1]

Personal life

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On the 9 Mar 1882 Dunsford married Maria McDonough and together had five children.[1] He died in office in 1905 and was buried in the Cunnamulla Cemetery.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  2. ^ Inscription for John Henry Dunsford — Australian Cemeteries Index. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Member for Charters Towers
1893–1905
Served alongside: Anderson Dawson, John Burrows
Succeeded by