Biographical entry Anstey, Francis (Frank) George (1865 - 1940)
Untitled, c. 1920
Details
- Born
- 18 August 1865
London, England - Died
- 31 October 1940
- Occupation
- Trade Union - Official, Politician - State - Vic (MLA or MLC) and Politician - Federal - MHR
Summary
Born Francis George Anstey in 1865, by the age of eleven, Frank had stowed aboard a full-rigged passenger vessel bound for Australia. Once in Sydney he signed on as a 'bosuns' boy' in a ship working the Pacific islands trade. Working as a seaman for ten years, Anstey was well qualified to join the Seamen's Union when he did in 1883. Eventually settling in Melbourne with his new bride, Frank initially worked as a cleaner at the Working Men's College whilst developing into a leading agitator for the labor cause. Anstey helped found the Tramway Employees' Association and was its president for a number of years. By 1902 Anstey had succeeded in being elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly. In 1910 he jumped to the federal political arena, succesfully being elected to a position in the House of Representatives. Remaining in politics until 1934, Anstey eventually died of cancer in Melbourne in October 1940.
Related entries
Union Membership(s)
Archival resources
National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection
- Lloyd Ross - Papers, 1854-1986, 1854 - 1986, MS 3939; National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection. Details
State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection
Published resources
Book Sections
- Turner, Ian, 'Anstey, Frances George', in Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 7, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1981, pp. 79-81. Details
See also
- Australia's Prime Ministers, National Archives of Australia, http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/. Details
Digital resources
Ross G. Elford
Created: 25 September 2001, Last modified: 29 November 2002