Richard Arthur
Encyclopedia
Richard Arthur was an Australian politician, social reformer and medical practitioner.
, Hampshire, England and educated at Dover College
. He received a Master of Arts
from the University of St Andrews
(1885) and MB and ChM
from the University of Edinburgh
(1888). He worked in the slums of Edinburgh, but contracted typhoid fever
. He met and married his wife in Australia in 1890. He returned to Europe and studied hypnotism in Paris, which earned him an MD
from the University of Edinburgh in 1891. After again becoming ill working in the slums of London, he returned to Australia and established a practice in the Sydney suburb of Mosman
, specialising in eye, ear-nose-and-throat, and dental work. He was a director of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
from 1917 to 1920 and from 1927 to 1931 and of Sydney Hospital
from 1924 to 1932.
as member for Middle Harbour
, representing the Liberal and Reform Party
. He became an early advocate of child endowment in 1916 and was a strong supporter of closer settlement and assisted immigration
to reduce the Japanese threat. From 1920 to 1927, he represented North Shore
. He was chairman of the 1923 Royal Commission
on Lunacy Law and Administration and, as a eugenicist
, recommended special training and institutions for "defectives". He represented Mosman
from 1927 to 1932 and was Minister for Public Health from 1927 to 1930 during the Bavin Government, but he failed to carry a mental defectives bill.
Arthur died in Mosman
and was survived by his wife, son and two daughters.
Early life
Arthur was born in AldershotAldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
, Hampshire, England and educated at Dover College
Dover College
Dover College is a co-educational independent school in Dover in southeast England. It was founded in 1871, and takes both day pupils and boarders....
. He received a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
(1885) and MB and ChM
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae , are the two first professional degrees awarded upon graduation from medical school in medicine and surgery by universities in various countries...
from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
(1888). He worked in the slums of Edinburgh, but contracted typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
. He met and married his wife in Australia in 1890. He returned to Europe and studied hypnotism in Paris, which earned him an MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from the University of Edinburgh in 1891. After again becoming ill working in the slums of London, he returned to Australia and established a practice in the Sydney suburb of Mosman
Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore 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 government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
, specialising in eye, ear-nose-and-throat, and dental work. He was a director of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital is a major public teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Missenden Road in Camperdown...
from 1917 to 1920 and from 1927 to 1931 and of Sydney Hospital
Sydney Hospital
Sydney Hospital is a major hospital in Sydney, Australia, located on Macquarie Street in the Sydney central business district. It is the oldest hospital in Australia, dating back to 1788, and has been at its current location since 1811. It first received the name Sydney Hospital in 1881.Currently...
from 1924 to 1932.
Political career
Arthur was elected in 1904 to the New South Wales Legislative AssemblyNew South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
as member for Middle Harbour
Electoral district of Middle Harbour
Middle Harbour was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, named after Middle Harbour, Sydney. It was first created in 1904, partly replacing Warringah and Willoughby. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was...
, representing the Liberal and Reform Party
Liberal Reform Party (Australia)
The Liberal Reform Party was an Australian political party, active in New South Wales state politics between 1901 and 1916. The question of tariff policy which, had created and divided the Free Trade Party and Protectionist Party in New South Wales in the 1890s, became a federal issue at the time...
. He became an early advocate of child endowment in 1916 and was a strong supporter of closer settlement and assisted immigration
Immigration to Australia
Immigration to Australia is estimated to have begun around 51,000 years ago when the ancestors of Australian Aborigines arrived on the continent via the islands of the Malay Archipelago and New Guinea. Europeans first landed in the 17th and 18th Centuries, but colonisation only started in 1788. The...
to reduce the Japanese threat. From 1920 to 1927, he represented North Shore
Electoral district of North Shore
North Shore is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Jillian Skinner of the Liberal Party of Australia.-History:...
. He was chairman of the 1923 Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
on Lunacy Law and Administration and, as a eugenicist
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
, recommended special training and institutions for "defectives". He represented Mosman
Electoral district of Mosman
Mosman was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1913 and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Mosman. In 1920, with the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into Middle Harbour. Mosman...
from 1927 to 1932 and was Minister for Public Health from 1927 to 1930 during the Bavin Government, but he failed to carry a mental defectives bill.
Arthur died in Mosman
Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore 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 government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
and was survived by his wife, son and two daughters.