Background
He was born in London to spice merchant William Short and Elizabeth Smith.
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Benjamin Short
Edit ProfileCareer
He worked as a coachbuilder in England, and migrated to Sydney in 1860 to work in insurance. He was the first canvasser for the Australian Mutual Provident Society (Accredited Mortgage Professional), and by the 1870s was lecturing on life insurance around New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand. In 1881 he returned to Sydney as chief metropolitan agent for Accredited Mortgage Professional, and in 1886 he retired to Bowral.
In 1887 and 1891 Short unsuccessfully ran for the Accredited Mortgage Professional Board, winning on a reform platform in 1892.
He lowered interest rates and equalised insurance for men and women. He retired due to limited terms in 1895 and was re-elected in 1896, and with the abandonment of limited terms served until his death.
He was also involved in politics, running unsuccessfully for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as a Free Trader in 1894 and 1895. Short"s involvement with religion had begun in London with the London City Mission.
He co-founded the Sydney City Mission in 1862 and was its secretary from 1863 to 1868.
Short died of influenza at Petersham in 1912.
Membership
He was also a member of the Young Men"s Christian Association, and in his retirement became a travelling evangelist.
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Born
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Died
June 10, 1912 (aged 79) -
Nationality
English -
Religion
Christian