George Raff (15 April 1815—28 August 1889) was a merchant, sugar grower and politician born in Forres, Morayshire, Scotland who spent a substantial part of his life in Australia.[1]
Born to James Raff, a farmer and peasant, and Margaret Raff, née Cumming, little is known about Raff's early years. He left for Sydney aboard the Earl Durham, and arrived on 2 January 1839. Soon after arriving, he found employment with Lamb, Parbury & Co., founded by John de Villiers Lamb and his brother.[2] He remained there, with that employment, for several years, before, in 1842–1843, he held Tarwin station, Gippsland. Around that time, on 14 April 1843, Raff married Harriet Sealy, daughter of Robert Bourne, a retired missionary whom he knew and was associated with in Gippsland.[1]
Sir George Bowen (seen here) offered to create a temporary committee with Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert and Raff.
In January 1851, Raff returned to Australia, and then moved to Brisbane, Queensland. Soon thereafter he founded both the George Raff & Co., and, a short time later, the Queensland Mercantile and Agency Co. He worked with both of these companies for ten years, before he became director of the Queensland Steam Navigation Co. Because of his close involvement with these significant enterprises, Raff was the main substantiator of the wool trade between Brisbane and London.[1]
At a plantation in close proximity to Caboolture, he began to work with the growing and harvesting of sugar, among other crops, and became involved with commercial sugar production. He was also commended for his treatment of the Kanaka men he employed on the site by John Dunmore Lang.[1]
Raff became politically involved in the separation movement. On 11 May 1860 he was elected to represent the Town of Brisbane[3] in the first proper parliament, also in 1860 he became a part of the Board of National Education and of the Exhibition Commission. Following the resignation of Arthur Macalister as premier in July 1866, the government that he was a part of was under threat of becoming utterly dysfunctional. To keep the government alive, Sir George Bowen offered to create a temporary committee with Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert and Raff, a move which was met with strong opposition. Raff continued to work in politics and parliament until 22 June 1867,[3] when he resigned. While Raff was a political liberal, his strong opposition to extravagance in politics and in government rendered him suspect in several circles, but his good will and patriotism was never denied openly.[1]
Personal lifeedit
Raff lived a happy social life with his family (wife and seven sons) at his house in New Farm, until the death of his wife in 1880.[4] Approximately four years later he married again, to Jane Molle, née Lord. Molle was a widow and she had children of her own. This led to Raff's effective estrangement from his sons.
Raff died on 28 August 1889 and was buried in Toowong Cemetery.[5] He was survived by his seven sons and left an estate valued for probate at £5038.[1]
^G. P. Walsh, 'Lamb, John de Villiers (1833–1900)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5, Melbourne University Press, 1974, pp. 55–56. Retrieved on 17 October 2007
^ ab(PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2015–2017: The 55th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Classified Advertising". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 29 November 1880. p. 1. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
^Raff George Archived 26 January 2015 at archive.today – Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
george, raff, april, 1815, august, 1889, merchant, sugar, grower, politician, born, forres, morayshire, scotland, spent, substantial, part, life, australia, member, queensland, legislative, assembly, town, brisbanein, office, 1860, april, 1864serving, with, ch. George Raff 15 April 1815 28 August 1889 was a merchant sugar grower and politician born in Forres Morayshire Scotland who spent a substantial part of his life in Australia 1 George RaffMember of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Town Of BrisbaneIn office 11 May 1860 8 April 1864Serving with Charles Blakeney Henry Jordan Robert Cribb Theophilus PughPreceded byNew seatSucceeded byWilliam BrookesIn office 23 November 1865 22 June 1867Serving with William Brookes Theophilus PughPreceded byCharles BlakeneySucceeded byAlexander PritchardPersonal detailsBornGeorge Raff 1815 04 06 6 April 1815Forres Elginshire ScotlandDied28 August 1889 1889 08 28 aged 74 Brisbane Queensland AustraliaResting placeToowong CemeterySpouse s Harriet Sealy m 1843 d 1880 Eliza Jane Molle m 1883 RelationsAlexander Raff brother OccupationGrazier Born to James Raff a farmer and peasant and Margaret Raff nee Cumming little is known about Raff s early years He left for Sydney aboard the Earl Durham and arrived on 2 January 1839 Soon after arriving he found employment with Lamb Parbury amp Co founded by John de Villiers Lamb and his brother 2 He remained there with that employment for several years before in 1842 1843 he held Tarwin station Gippsland Around that time on 14 April 1843 Raff married Harriet Sealy daughter of Robert Bourne a retired missionary whom he knew and was associated with in Gippsland 1 Sir George Bowen seen here offered to create a temporary committee with Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert and Raff In January 1851 Raff returned to Australia and then moved to Brisbane Queensland Soon thereafter he founded both the George Raff amp Co and a short time later the Queensland Mercantile and Agency Co He worked with both of these companies for ten years before he became director of the Queensland Steam Navigation Co Because of his close involvement with these significant enterprises Raff was the main substantiator of the wool trade between Brisbane and London 1 At a plantation in close proximity to Caboolture he began to work with the growing and harvesting of sugar among other crops and became involved with commercial sugar production He was also commended for his treatment of the Kanaka men he employed on the site by John Dunmore Lang 1 Raff became politically involved in the separation movement On 11 May 1860 he was elected to represent the Town of Brisbane 3 in the first proper parliament also in 1860 he became a part of the Board of National Education and of the Exhibition Commission Following the resignation of Arthur Macalister as premier in July 1866 the government that he was a part of was under threat of becoming utterly dysfunctional To keep the government alive Sir George Bowen offered to create a temporary committee with Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert and Raff a move which was met with strong opposition Raff continued to work in politics and parliament until 22 June 1867 3 when he resigned While Raff was a political liberal his strong opposition to extravagance in politics and in government rendered him suspect in several circles but his good will and patriotism was never denied openly 1 Personal life editRaff lived a happy social life with his family wife and seven sons at his house in New Farm until the death of his wife in 1880 4 Approximately four years later he married again to Jane Molle nee Lord Molle was a widow and she had children of her own This led to Raff s effective estrangement from his sons Raff died on 28 August 1889 and was buried in Toowong Cemetery 5 He was survived by his seven sons and left an estate valued for probate at 5038 1 Notes edit a b c d e f Hall Noeline V Raff George 1815 1889 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University ISSN 1833 7538 Retrieved 16 July 2013 G P Walsh Lamb John de Villiers 1833 1900 Australian Dictionary of Biography Volume 5 Melbourne University Press 1974 pp 55 56 Retrieved on 17 October 2007 a b Part 2 15 Alphabetical Register of Members of the Legislative Assembly 1860 2017 and the Legislative Council 1860 1922 PDF Queensland Parliamentary Record 2015 2017 The 55th Parliament Queensland Parliament Archived from the original on 26 April 2020 Retrieved 27 April 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Classified Advertising The Brisbane Courier National Library of Australia 29 November 1880 p 1 Retrieved 26 January 2015 Raff George Archived 26 January 2015 at archive today Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search Retrieved 26 January 2015 Parliament of Queensland New seat Member for Town Of Brisbane1860 1864 Served alongside Charles Blakeney Henry Jordan Robert Cribb Theophilus Pugh Succeeded byWilliam Brooke Preceded byCharles Blakeney Member for Town Of Brisbane1865 1867 Served alongside William Brookes Theophilus Pugh Succeeded byAlexander Pritchard Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Raff amp oldid 1136409817, 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