Frederick Samson
Encyclopedia
Sir William Frederick Samson (12 January 1892 – 6 February 1974) was a businessman and long-term Mayor of Fremantle, Western Australia
.
Samson was born at Fremantle, the second son of Michael Samson, and his wife Mary, née Murphy. He was educated at Christian Brothers' College, Fremantle and later studied engineering at the University of Western Australia
. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
in 1915, but was declared medically unfit. In 1919 he contracted Spanish Flu
. He joined the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Department and worked as a surveyor between 1918 and 1930. Samson established himself as a real-estate agent in 1931.
His house, a well-known Fremantle landmark called "Samson House" was designed by Sir Talbot Hobbs
and built by his father in 1888. Samson inherited the house (which he had been born in) in 1935. He lived there his entire life and willed it to the Western Australian Museum
. Also in 1935, Samson married Daphne Alice Marks. The couple had no children.
Following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, Frederick Samson was elected to the Fremantle City Council
in 1936. He was elected to the mayoral position unopposed in 1951 and remained there until his retirement in May 1972. Samson was a champion of his beloved Fremantle, and much like his mayoral predecessor Sir Frank Gibson
, he campaigned vigorously for the preservation of numerous heritage buildings in and around the port city, including the Fremantle Arts Centre
.
In addition to civic duties, he was a successful businessman and served on numerous Boards and committees. In 1946 he helped to form the Home Building Society and was chairman from 1951 to 1974. He served as a councillor of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia from 1949 to 1964 and was a Board member at the State Electricity Commission
from 1954 to 1974.
Samson was knighted in 1962 and was appointed the first honorary freeman
of Fremantle in 1969.
As a long term civic leader, Samson had a number of places named after him:
(1799–1878). His father Michael was Lord Mayor of Fremantle from 1905 to 1907, as was his uncle (Michael's brother) from 1892 to 1893 and who was also named William Frederick Samson.
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
.
Samson was born at Fremantle, the second son of Michael Samson, and his wife Mary, née Murphy. He was educated at Christian Brothers' College, Fremantle and later studied engineering at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
in 1915, but was declared medically unfit. In 1919 he contracted Spanish Flu
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
. He joined the Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Department and worked as a surveyor between 1918 and 1930. Samson established himself as a real-estate agent in 1931.
His house, a well-known Fremantle landmark called "Samson House" was designed by Sir Talbot Hobbs
Talbot Hobbs
Lieutenant General Sir Joseph John Talbot Hobbs KCB, KCMG, VD was an Australian architect and First World War general.-Early life:...
and built by his father in 1888. Samson inherited the house (which he had been born in) in 1935. He lived there his entire life and willed it to the Western Australian Museum
Western Australian Museum
The Western Australian Museum is the state museum for Western Australia.The Western Australian Museum has seven main sites: two in Perth within the Perth Cultural Centre, two in Fremantle , and one each in Albany, Geraldton, and Kalgoorlie-Boulder...
. Also in 1935, Samson married Daphne Alice Marks. The couple had no children.
Following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, Frederick Samson was elected to the Fremantle City Council
City of Fremantle
The City of Fremantle is a Local Government Area in South Metropolitan Perth. The City covers an area of , and lies about southwest of the Perth central business district.-History:...
in 1936. He was elected to the mayoral position unopposed in 1951 and remained there until his retirement in May 1972. Samson was a champion of his beloved Fremantle, and much like his mayoral predecessor Sir Frank Gibson
Frank Gibson (politician)
Sir Frank Ernest Gibson was an Australian politician.Born at Egerton, Victoria, to Irish-born policeman Alexander Gibson and Louisa Herring, he attended Grenville College and the School of Mines at Ballarat before moving to Western Australia as a qualified pharmacist, setting up a business in...
, he campaigned vigorously for the preservation of numerous heritage buildings in and around the port city, including the Fremantle Arts Centre
Fremantle Arts Centre
Fremantle Arts Centre is a multi-arts organisation, offering a program of exhibitions, residencies, art courses and music in a historic building in the heart of Fremantle, Western Australia....
.
In addition to civic duties, he was a successful businessman and served on numerous Boards and committees. In 1946 he helped to form the Home Building Society and was chairman from 1951 to 1974. He served as a councillor of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia from 1949 to 1964 and was a Board member at the State Electricity Commission
State Energy Commission of Western Australia
The State Energy Commission of Western Australia was an Australian energy provider. It was established on 1 January 1975 as an amalgamation of the State Electricity Commission of Western Australia plus the Fuel and Power Commission.On 1 January 1995 it was split up into separate gas and...
from 1954 to 1974.
Samson was knighted in 1962 and was appointed the first honorary freeman
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
of Fremantle in 1969.
As a long term civic leader, Samson had a number of places named after him:
- The Fremantle suburb of Samson, Western AustraliaSamson, Western AustraliaSamson is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Fremantle. Samson is bounded by South Street to the north,Stock Road to the west, Winterfold Road to the south, South Street to the north and East no further than Rushby and McMahon Ways.The suburb comprises fewer than 40...
- Sir Frederick Samson Park, a 6 km² native bushland in the suburb's centre
Family
Samson was the grandson of an early settler of Western Australia, Lionel SamsonLionel Samson
Lionel Samson was an early Swan River Colony settler and businessman whose firm, Lionel Samson & Son, is the oldest continuing family business in Australia....
(1799–1878). His father Michael was Lord Mayor of Fremantle from 1905 to 1907, as was his uncle (Michael's brother) from 1892 to 1893 and who was also named William Frederick Samson.