Peter Fintan Lalor M.L.A. (1827 - 1889)

Born 5 Feb 1827 in Raheen, Queen's County, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Alicia Mary (Dunne) Lalor — married 1855 in Colony of Victoria

Descendants

Died 9 Feb 1889 at age 62 in Richmond, Colony of Victoria

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Biography

Peter Lalor M.L.A. is Notable.

Peter Lalor M.L.A. was born in Ireland.

Peter Lalor M.L.A. migrated from Ireland to Victoria (Australia).

Peter Lalor M.L.A. was involved in events associated with the Eureka Rebellion at Ballarat.

Peter was a Roman Catholic

Peter Lalor was born in Ireland on 5th February 1827 in Raheen, Queen's County, Ireland. He was the son of Patrick Lalor and Anne Dillon, Irish nationalists.

He studied civil engineering at Carlow College and in Dublin.

He emigrated to Victoria (Australia) with a brother in 1852 to escape a Gorta Mór.

He worked on the Geelong–Melbourne railway before staking a claim at the Eureka Lead, Ballarat, in early 1854. He was working this claim with a future premier of Victoria, Duncan Gillies. Lalor is notable as the leader of miners and the Eureka Rebellion in Ballarat, and a symbol for workers’ rights and democracy in Australia. On 30 November 1854 Lalor, who had been working 35 metres underground, came to the surface when diggers rushed to Eureka after a licence hunt. According to Eureka chronicler Raffaello Carboni, he ‘knelt down, the head uncovered, and with the right hand pointing to the standard, exclaimed in a firm measured tone: “We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other to defend our rights and liberties.”’

On 3 December the newly constructed stockade was attacked. Lalor was wounded and later had his arm amputated. Hotham charged him with treason and sedition and offered £200 reward for his capture, but this was later revoked and Lalor was found not guilty. Patrick Carroll and his son Michael Carroll helped Lalor escape from Ballarat to Geelong.

Peter married Alicia Dunne on 10th July 1855 in St Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Geelong, Victoria. ^[1] Peter and Alicia had the following children: Ann, Mary, and Joseph Peter. He had five known grandchildren from Joseph Peter. ^[2]

In 1855, Lalor was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly. He focused on: miner's rights; compensation for victims of the Eureka uprising; protection of local industry and for immigration. The Irish have always valued education, in Australia they were very active in funding and supporting schools and a fair apprenticeship system in Australia. As a politician, Lalor lobbied and worked for a national education system. ^[3] Lalor had a long parliamentary career where he adhered to personal convictions rather than policies and was regarded as erratic. He was elected speaker in 1880, resigning in 1887.

Aged 62 years, he passed away on 9th February 1889 in Richmond, Victoria ^[4] and was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. ^[5][6]

Lalor Park, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales was named after him.

His grandson Captain Joseph Peter Lalor was killed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. ^[7]

Research notes

Raheen (Irish: An Ráithín, meaning 'little ringfort') is a small village south of Portlaoise in County Laois, Ireland. ^[8]

..."The diggers were subjected to the most unheard of insults and cruelties in the collection of this tax, being, in many instances, chained to logs if they could not produce their license. I have often known men asked for their license four or five times in the course of a day, and this has been more particularly the case since the arrival of Sir Charles Hotham. The water to be contended with in deep sinking compels the diggers frequently to change their dress; in doing so they very often leave their licenses behind; under such circumstances, should they be visited by the police, they are dragged wet and dripping as they may be, to the prison like common felons."... ..."On Thursday morning (30th November 1854) the police and military came out to look for licenses; a digger, who, I presume, had no license, was running away, when an officer of police ordered his men to "fire on him," - to "shoot him down," and he was fired at. I positively assert that the Riot Act had not been read when the digger was fired at. (See Mr. S. Cumming's evidence before the Gold Commission.)"... ^[9]

..."It may be as well to mention that Mr. Lalor is a gentleman by birth and education. His father was lately a member of the British House of Commons, and his brother J. P. Lalor, was associated with John Mitchell in the editorship, first of the United Irishman, and then of the Irish Felon. He was imprisoned by the British Government for his political writings, and soon after died. His funeral was the largest ever seen in Ireland, with the exception of Daniel O'Connell's. His grave is by the side of Curran's in Glasnevin Cemetry. It is unnecessary to add that he was a thorough republican, though his father was and is, a constitutionalist of the English type."...^[10]

Thomas CURRIE, one of the 'Pioneers of Bendigo' was a friend of Peter Lalor.

Sources

1. ↑ Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950; Marriage Place: Victoria; Registration Place: Victoria; Registration Year: 1855; Registration Number: 2300/1855
2. ↑ Ballarat & District Genealogical Society Inc.
3. ↑ Eurekapedia
4. ↑ Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985; Name: Peter Lalor; Birth Year: abt 1827; Age: 62; Death Place: Richmond, Victoria; Father's name: Pat; Mother's name: Dillon; Registration Year: 1889; Registration Place: Victoria; Registration Number: 4606
5. ↑ Find A Grave
6. ↑ Grave record for Peter Fintan Lalor (5 Feb 1827 - 9 Feb 1889), Billion Graves Record 5714442 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. first accessed online on the 5th of September, 2021 at: https://billiongraves.com/grave/Peter-Fintan-Lalor/5714442
7. ↑ In Memorium: A Guide to the History and Heritage of Victoria's Cemeteries at page 33, Melbourne General Cemetery
8. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raheen,_County_Laois
9. ↑ The Ballarat Rebellion (Lalor's response letter to the justification of the miners uprising) The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Mon 9 Apr 1855 page 6. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154896338?searchTerm=Lalor
10. ↑ Peter Lalor editorial published Friday 15th June 1855 in The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Page;4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154896491?searchTerm=Lalor

• Obituary, The Argus, Monday 11 February 1889
• Ireland, XO)-Peter Lalor, accessed 24 Jun 2022.

See also

• Australian Dictionary of Biography, accessed 17 Aug 2015.
• Eureka Rebellion page - 1854.
• Wikipedia Entry.