Sir Joseph Palmer Abbott, KB, Knight Commander of the Order of Street Michael and Saint George was an Australian politician and solicitor.
Background
Joseph Palmer Abbott was born on 29 September 1842 at Muswellbrook, New South Wales, to John Kingsmill Abbott, a squatter, and his wife Frances Amanda, née Brady. Upon completion of his education in 1857, he returned to the family station "Glengarry", near Wingen in the upper Hunter Region, where his mother had gone from Muswellbrook in 1847 upon the death of his father.
Career
Abbott was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the member for Gunnedah on 29 November 1880, and later for Wentworth on 26 February 1887 which he served until he retired from parliament on 11 June 1901. Abbott was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in 1890 and has a reputation as an authority on parliamentary procedure. He also imposed dignified control over the formerly unruly Assembly.
He resigned the Speakership in 1900.
He was known for his work involving property laws of Australia, and as a New South Wales delegate for the Federation Conventions of 1891, 1897, and 1898 where he was Chairman of Committees. He created the 1881 Hospital Acts Amendment Acting, which led to him becoming an honorary governor of several medical facilities.
In January 1883, Abbott became the Secretary of Mines for Premier Sir Alexander Stuart"s ministry. After a ministry reconstruction by Sir George Dibbs in 1885, Abbott became the Secretary of Lands.
Abbott was born in Muswellbrook in New South Wales, and was the son of John Abbott and Frances Amanda (née Brady).
He was initiated as a Freemason in 1864, and served as Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales from 1895 to 1899. He was knighted in 1892. She died in 1880. Another son, Joe Abbott (1891–1965) was member for New England in the Australian House of Representatives from 1940 to 1949.
Abbott lived for a time in Tarella, an Italianate mansion in Amherst Street, Cammeray, which he built c.
1886. Palmer Street in Cammeray is named after him. He died on 15 September 1901, and was buried in Waverley Cemetery.
Politics
He was briefly the leader of the Opposition for the Free Trade Party, but resigned soon afterwards, after a disagreement about the party"s merge with the Protectionist Party.
Membership
Abbott, along with many other politicians, was a member of the Australian Club and Union Club. One son, Mac Abbott (1877–1960), also a solicitor, was also a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Upper Hunter (1913–1918).