John Harper (1851 – 1 July 1932) was a railways administrator. He served as Chief Commissioner of New South Wales Railways from 1914 to 1917.

History

Harper was born in Parramatta and educated at

Newington College Newington College is a multi-campus Independent school, independent Uniting Church in Australia, Uniting Church Single-sex education, single-sex and Mixed-sex education, co-educational Pre-school education, early learning, Primary school, primar ...

and King's School. He spent several years in literary employment, then in 1871 started with the Railways as a clerk in

John Whitton John Whitton (1820 near Wakefield, Yorkshire, England – 20 February 1898), an English people, Anglo–Australians, Australian Railway systems engineering, railway civil engineer, engineer, was the Engineer-in-Charge for the New South Wales Gov ...

's office. In 1877 he was appointed clerk supervising goods staff at

Redfern railway station Redfern railway station is a heritage-listed former railway bridge and now railway station located on the Main Suburban railway line in the Inner City Sydney suburb of Redfern in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Aust ...

. In 1887 he succeeded G. T. Evans as goods superintendent, then in 1897 he succeeded David Kirkcaldie as Chief Traffic Manager, then following the death of Kirkcaldie was promoted to Assistant Commissioner for Railways. Harper was Acting Commissioner while T. R. Johnson was on three months' leave from April 1910, then was elevated to the substantive position when Johnson retired in 1914. Harper was not in robust health, however. He was obliged to take leave, and at its expiry he tendered his resignation. The post of Chief Commissioner was then filled by James Fraser, who had been acting during Harper's absence. Harper died at his home at 29 Prince Albert Street,

Mosman Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local governm ...

. His remains were buried at

Rookwood Cemetery Rookwood Cemetery (officially named Rookwood Necropolis) is a heritage-listed cemetery in Rookwood, Sydney, Australia. It is the largest necropolis in the Southern Hemisphere and is the world's largest remaining operating cemetery from the ...

Personal

Harper married Sarah (c. 1853 – c. 10 October 1929) Their children include: *Walter Harper *Ethel Mary Harper (born 27 March 1875) married Stanley Macleay Rudder (also rendered "Rutter") of "St Elmo", Mudgee, on 26 March 1904 *Emily Harper married L. J. Berkelman

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harper, John 1851 births 1932 deaths Railway commissioners of New South Wales People educated at The King's School, Parramatta People educated at Newington College People from Parramatta