Alfred William Meeks KBE (1849 - 1932)

Born 15 Apr 1849 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Alice (Freeman) Meeks — married 14 Oct 1873 in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

Descendants

Died 6 Mar 1932 at age 82 in Darling Point, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Alfred Meeks KBE is Notable.

Sir Alfred Meeks KBE was an English-born Australian businessman and politician.

Alfred Meeks KBE was born in Gloucestershire, England.

Alfred William Meeks was born on 15th April 1849 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom. He was the third son of William Meeks, a shoe maker, and Maria Healing. ^[1]

Alfred Meeks KBE migrated from England to Victoria.

The family migrated to Victoria (Australia) when Alfred was almost five years of age, arriving at Port Melbourne in April 1854; whereupon he attended St James' Grammar School in Melbourne. ^[2]

Alfred married Alice Freeman on 14th October 1873 in Melbourne. ^[3] The couple subsequently had two children.

In 1878 he was appointed a departmental manager for Gibbs, Bright & Co., and opened branches in Adelaide and Sydney, where he became resident partner in 1888. He was also a director of the National Bank of Australasia, director of the Australian Mutual Provident Society 1889 until 1932 (chairman from 1906 until 1932), chairman Lysaght Brothers and Co. Ltd and Sydney Hydraulic Power Company. In 1887 he was president of the Adelaide Chamber of Commerce and from 1896 until 1898 the Sydney Chamber of Commerce. Alfred served as Honorary Treasurer of the Sydney City Mission, president of the Young Men's Christian Association and a member of the New South Wales Bush Nursing Association. ^[2]

On 12th June 1900 he received a life appointment to the New South Wales Legislative Council, retaining his seat for 31 years, 8 months and 24 days. ^[2]

On 19th October 1920 Alfred was created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) as a member of the NSW Legislative Council. ^[4]

Aged 82 years, he passed away on 6th March 1932 in Darling Point, New South Wales. ^[5] Alice passed away just a few months later. ^[6] Their son, Victor Alfred Freeman, had predecased them in 1926. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ UK FreeBMD Birth Index Jun qtr 1849, vol 11, page 228
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} New South Wales Parliament; accessed 16 Feb 2024
3. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #4663/1873
4. ↑ Australian Honours: KBE; accessed 16 Feb 2024
5. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #4962/1932; registered at Woollahra
6. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #16195/1932
7. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #9227/1926

See also:

• Wikipedia: Alfred Meeks; accessed 16 Feb 2024.