Robert Palmer Abbott

Robert Palmer Abbott (1830 – 31 October 1901) was a politician and solicitor in colonial New South Wales, a member of both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council. Abbott was born in Broadford, County Clare in Ireland, and emigrated to Sydney as a boy with his parents, Eleanor, née Kingsmill and Thomas Abbott, policeman, arriving in the colony in 1838. He was admitted a solicitor in 1854, subsequently specialising in litigation concerning the Robertson Land Acts, and had opened an office in Tamworth. Abbott ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Legislative Assembly at the 1869 election for Tenterfield, and the 1871 New England by-election, before winning the 1872 election for Tenterfield, serving as the member for Tenterfield until his defeat at the 1877 election. He was Secretary for Mines in the first ministry of Henry Parkes from 27 July 1874 until 8 February 1875, and was Mayor of East St Leonards from February 1878 until February 1879.