THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA'S
FEDERATION GATEWAY


O'SULLIVAN, EDWARD WILLIAM (1846-1910)

O'Sullivan promoted Federation, and a republican Australia and espoused the vote for women. He was a printer, journalist and politician, born on 17 March 1846 at Launceston, Tasmania.

O'Sullivan moved to Melbourne in 1874 and married Agnes Ann Firman, a milliner, on 17 December 1878.

O'Sullivan stood unsuccessfully for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1882 and in 1885, but he was returned later for Queanbeyan, a seat he held for 19 years. In parliament, O'Sullivan represented the protectionist cause; protection, he believed, advanced national independence and self-reliance and defended the interests of the productive classes, the workers, manufacturers and farmers.

He became a strong supporter of the draft Constitution Bill in June 1891. The worsening international situation, he argued, required Australian union. He was Minister for Public Works in the Ministry of Sir John See from September 1899 until June 1904 and Secretary of Lands in the following Waddell Ministry.

Throughout his political life O'Sullivan worked untiringly for old-age pensions and strongly advocated an eight-hour working day, early closing protection, and women's suffrage. He died at Sydney on 25 April 1910.

Books of interest

Mansfield, Bruce. (1965). Australian democrat: the career of Edward William O'Sullivan, 1846-1910. Sydney: Sydney University Press.

O'Sullivan, E. W. (Edward William). (1906). Under the Southern Cross : Australian sketches, stories and speeches. Sydney: William Brooks & Company.

Dibbs, George R. (George Richard) Letter Passy, Hunters Hill, to Manning [manuscript]: 1902.

Makers of miracles: the cast of the Federation story / edited by David Headon and John Williams. Carlton South, Vic: Melbourne University Press, 2000.

The National Library of Australia has six published items written by Edward O'Sullivan on military, literary, land and industrial issues.

 

Home | About this Site | Chronology | Exhibitions | Links | People | Politics | Resources