Francis Longmore (1826 – 1 May 1898) was a politician in colonial

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, commissioner of railways and roads 1869 to 1870 and for Crown Lands 1875 and 1877 to 1880. Longmore was the youngest son of George Longmore, a farmer in

Monaghan Monaghan ( ; ) is the county town of County Monaghan, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It also provides the name of its Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish and Monaghan (barony), barony. The population of the town as of the 2016 census was 7 ...

, Ireland. He was educated at Mr. Blackey's Presbyterian Academy, Monaghan, and in 1839 went to Australia with the members of his family, who settled in New South Wales, where he followed farming pursuits till 1851, when he started business in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

as a commission agent. The next year he moved to Victoria, where from 1854 he farmed land in the Learmonth district. In 1856 Longmore began to take an active part in public affairs, being a strong opponent of the abuses of the land system. In 1859 he stood for Ripon and Hampden in the

Victorian Legislative Assembly The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria in Australia; the upper house being the Victorian Legislative Council. Both houses sit at Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The presiding ...

, but was defeated by

James Service James Service (27 November 1823 – 12 April 1899), Australian colonial politician, was the 12th Premier of Victoria, Australia. Biography Service was born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, the son of Robert Service. As a young man James wor ...

. In November 1864 he was successful against another opponent. In the Assembly he distinguished himself as a strong Liberal, Protectionist, and land reformer. He held office as commissioner of railways and Vice-

President of the Board of Land and Works The Board of Land and Works was a board that throughout its existence, was responsible for matters involving public works, public lands, railways, main roads, bridges, Melbourne sewage and water supply, rural water supply, aboriginal welfare, an ...

under

Charles Gavan Duffy Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, KCMG, PC (12 April 1816 – 9 February 1903), was an Irish poet and journalist (editor of ''The Nation''), Young Irelander and tenant-rights activist. After emigrating to Australia in 1856 he entered the politics of ...

from June 1871 to June 1872, and was Minister of Lands under

Graham Berry Sir Graham Berry, (28 August 1822 – 25 January 1904), Australian colonial politician, was the 11th Premier of Victoria. He was one of the most radical and colourful figures in the politics of colonial Victoria, and made the most determined e ...

from August to October 1875. In the second Berry Government, which lasted from May 1877 till March 1880, he held the same position, distinguishing himself as a Minister by his vehement opposition to squatting and support of small settlement. Longmore was defeated for Ripon and Hampden in 1883, but represented Dandenong and Berwick from October 1894 to September 1897. Longmore died in

Malvern, Victoria Malvern () is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-east of Melbourne's Melbourne city centre, Central Business District, located within the City of Stonnington Local government areas of Victoria, loca ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

on 1 May 1898.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Longmore, Francis 1826 births 1898 deaths Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly Vice-Presidents of the Board of Land and Works Presidents of the Board of Land and Works Irish emigrants to colonial Australia 19th-century Australian politicians People from Monaghan (town) Ministers for Agriculture (Victoria) Ministers of Railways (Victoria)