Background
Fitzpatrick was born in Moama in the Riverina region of New South Wales, but his family moved to Windsor in 1869.
Fitzpatrick was born in Moama in the Riverina region of New South Wales, but his family moved to Windsor in 1869.
He was educated at a catholic school and he was apprenticed to the former Australian newspaper"s Windsor office at 14.
He was a compositor on the former Melbourne Punch at 18 and subsequently worked on papers in Gunnedah, Narrabri, Walgett and Parramatta and Goulburn. In about 1888, he established the Windsor and Richmond Gazette and in 1905 he bought the Molong Argus, which he and in 1907. He held the seat until 1904, when he stood unsuccessfully for Northumberland.
In 1906, he lost the Federal seat of Calare to Thomas Brown.
He joined Holman"s Nationalist government as Secretary for Mines from November 1916 and Colonial Treasurer from October 1918 until its defeat by John Storey Labor Party in April 1920. He was Secretary for Mines and Minister for Local Government on 20 December 1921 in George Fuller"s seven-hour government and between 1922 and 1925.
Fitzpatrick retired from politics in 1930.
Fitzpatrick was elected as the member for Rylstone in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in July 1895, representing the Free Trade Party.