Charles Carty Salmon, generally known as Carty Salmon, was an Australian politician and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Background
Salmon was born at Amherst, Victoria on 27 July 1860 to English-born parents: storekeeper Frederick Browne Salmon and Susannah Carty, née Arnell. He attended Scotch College, Melbourne and, after a brief time with his uncle"s tobacco company, returned to his father"s grazing property.
Career
In 1886 he entered the University of Melbourne, studying medicine, obtaining Scottish qualifications and subsequently practicing as a doctor. He was a minister without portfolio, and subsequently minister for public instruction and commissioner for trade and customs, from 1899–1900 in Allan McLean"s government. In 1901, Salmon transferred to the Australian House of Representatives as the Protectionist member for Laanecoorie, holding the seat until its abolition in 1912.
He became the House"s second Speaker following the death of Sir Frederick Holder in 1909.
He was known for his support of the White Australia policy, a strong national defence (not including conscription), and the policy of New Protection. He attempted to transfer to the Senate in 1913 after his seat"s abolition, but was defeated.
He also declined preselection for the safe seat of Balaclava. Salmon was a freemason and from 1914 was the grand master of the Grand Lodge of Victoria.
He was also a lieutenant-colonel in the Australian Medical Corps and commanded a base hospital in Melbourne in 1914.
He died on 15 September 1917 at his home in South Yarra and was buried with Masonic rites and full military honours. His eulogy was delivered by Lowther Clarke, Archbishop of Melbourne, and both Prime Minister Billy Hughes and Leader of the Opposition Matthew Charlton attended his funeral.
Politics
He won an 1893 by-election for the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Talbot and Avoca as an independent, and became identified as a political liberal. In 1909, when the Protectionist Party amalgamated with the Anti-Socialists, he became a member of the resulting Commonwealth Liberal Party.