Alfred Richard Barclay facts for kids
Alfred Richard Barclay (born August 8, 1859 – died November 10, 1912) was an important person in New Zealand's government. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for two different areas in Dunedin. He belonged to the Liberal Party.
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Early Life and Education
Barclay was born in Ireland in 1859. He was the oldest son of George and Annie Barclay. His family moved to New Zealand in 1865. They arrived on a ship called the Dona Anita in Lyttelton and settled in Timaru.
Alfred went to public school in Timaru. He also studied at Christ's College in Christchurch. Later, he attended the University of Otago in Dunedin. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1878. He then got a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1884. In 1887, he became a lawyer, known as a barrister and solicitor. He worked as a lawyer for some time. In 1891, he became a teacher of constitutional history at the University of Otago.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1899–1902 | 14th | City of Dunedin | Liberal–Labour | |
| 1905–1908 | 16th | Dunedin North | Liberal–Labour | |
Barclay became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the City of Dunedin. He served in the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1899 to 1902. After losing the election in 1902, he returned to Parliament in 1905. This time, he represented Dunedin North until 1908. He was defeated again in the 1908 election.
Barclay's Political Ideas
Barclay was interested in the ideas of Karl Marx. Marx was a thinker who wrote about how society and economy work. In 1899, Barclay wrote a short book about Marx. He even quoted Marx in his first speech in Parliament.
In 1907, Barclay suggested a new idea in Parliament. He wanted the government to control the supply of food and clothing for everyone. This idea is called nationalisation. He also strongly disagreed with the Second Boer War.
In 1911, he was chosen to run for the Labour Party in Dunedin North. However, he had to withdraw from the election because he became ill.
Family and Later Life
On October 26, 1887, Alfred Barclay married Annie Baron. She was the daughter of Henry William Baron from Dunedin. They had three children together: George, born in 1898, Elfreda, born in 1900, and Frederick, born in 1904. Alfred Richard Barclay passed away on November 10, 1912. His wife, Annie, survived him.
