TLM-Ps Political and Postal Career

When Queensland separated from the colony of NSW in 1859, TLM-P and other squatters were determined to consolidate their interests. The idea of mass democracy was still a radical idea and property owners were generally firm in their conviction that they alone had the right to rule - even if it did mean a few women managed to vote before legislation was amended to exclude them. TLM-P stood for the first election in 1860, but failed to win the seat of East Moreton. He then 'joined the public service as postal inspector in 1861'; he was appointed Queensland's first Postmaster-General in 1862.¹⁾ Darbyshire states that TLM-P's brother-in-law, fellow squatters William Barker and Charles Robert Haly, provide part of the necessary bond.²⁾

TLM-P was a member of the Legislative Council of Queensland from 22 February 1866 until his death in 31 December 1892.³⁾ The suggestion that he was its President⁴⁾ appears a confusion with his chairing … .