Richard Henry Thompson M.L.C. (20 July 1906 – 21 March 1964) was an Australian politician and

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

Lay Preacher. He was born at

Paeroa Paeroa is a town in the Hauraki District of the Waikato Region in the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula, it is close to the junction of the Waihou River and Ohinemuri River, and is approximately 20 kilo ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

to miner Leslie Foster Thompson and Caroline Walker. His parents returned to Australia when he was two and he attended state schools before completing his education at

Newington College , motto_translation = To Faith Add Knowledge , location = Inner West and Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales , country = Australia , coordinates = , pushpin_map = A ...

(1922–1924). In his final year he was a member of the 1st XV Rugby, 1st VIII Rowing and 1st Debating Team. The Richard Thompson Memorial Debating Prize is awarded at Newington in his memory. After school he worked with Sun Newspapers Limited and later became a business consultant. Thompson was a Fellow of the

Royal Economic Society The Royal Economic Society (RES) is a professional association that promotes the study of economic science in academia, government service, banking, industry, and public affairs. Originally established in 1890 as the British Economic Association, ...

and served as Chairman of City of Sydney Eisteddfod in 1946 and President of the Australian Debating Union from 1949 until 1964. He was a member of the council of Newington College from 1948 until 1964 and was President of the Old Newingtonians' Union in 1952 and 1953. He was a councillor of

Leigh College Leigh College was from 1915 until 1974 a Methodist Theological College located at 416-420 Liverpool Road, Strathfield South, New South Wales. It was the successor to Wesleyan Theological Institution. The site includes three significant historic ...

and the Central Methodist Mission. Socially, he was a member of the

Australian Club The Australian Club is a private club founded in 1838 and located in Sydney at 165 Macquarie Street. Its membership is men-only and it is the oldest gentlemen's club in the southern hemisphere. "The Club provides excellent dining facilities, ...

and was known as Laddie. On 19 March 1934 he married Constance Olive Mayhew, with whom he had two children. From 1940 to 1964 he was a

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

member of the

New South Wales Legislative Council The New South Wales Legislative Council, often referred to as the upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of the Australian state of New South Wales. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in th ...

. Although he was re-elected for the term beginning in 1964, he died before parliament resumed at

Balgowlah Balgowlah is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Balgowlah (or Bulgowlah) said to be an Aboriginal name for "North Harbour". The area now known as Balgowlah was known to the Aboriginals as Jilling. Balgowla ...

References

1906 births 1964 deaths People educated at Newington College Old Newingtonians' Union presidents Members of Newington College Council Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council 20th-century Australian politicians Fellows of the Royal Economic Society {{Australia-Liberal-politician-stub