Thomas Finney (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Finney
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Thomas Finney ca. 1896.
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| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Toowong |
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| In office 11 March 1896 – 5 October 1900 |
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| Preceded by | Matthew Reid |
| Succeeded by | Edward Macartney |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Finney
10 January 1837 Tuam, Galway, Ireland |
| Died | 16 December 1903 (aged 66) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Resting place | Toowong Cemetery |
| Political party | Ministerialist |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Thomas Finney (1837–1903) was an important businessman and politician in Australia. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, representing the area of Toowong from 1896 to 1900.
Contents
Early Life and Business Success
Thomas Finney was born on January 10, 1837, in a place called Currakeen House in Tuam, Galway, Ireland. His parents were Thomas and Eliza Finney. When he was 19, in 1856, he started working in a shop that sold fabric and clothes, known as a drapery shop.
Moving to Australia
In 1862, Thomas Finney decided to move to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He traveled with his business partner, James Isles. Together, they planned to start a new life and a new business.
Starting Finney Isles & Co.
Thomas Finney and James Isles opened their own drapery business called Finney Isles & Co. It quickly became very successful. By 1869, their company had opened more shops in other towns like Rockhampton and Gympie.
The business kept growing. By 1873, they sold much more than just fabric. They expanded into tailoring (making clothes), furniture, home furnishings, and even hardware. This made their company a big name in Queensland.
Pioneering Fair Work Practices
Thomas Finney was known for being fair to his workers. In 1879, he was one of the first business owners in Brisbane to close his stores at 6 p.m. This was earlier than most other shops at the time.
In 1885, he and other businesses started closing at 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Even when other companies went back to working longer hours on Saturdays (until 11 p.m.), Finney kept the earlier closing time. He also helped set up a charity fund for his employees. The company would add the same amount of money that employees put into the fund. A committee, including Finney and two elected employees, managed this fund.
Overcoming Challenges
The business faced tough times in 1893. There were big floods and a financial crisis that affected many businesses. However, Finney Isles & Co. managed to recover and continued to thrive.
Political Career
At some point, Thomas Finney was elected to the Toowong Shire Council, which is a local government group. Later, in 1896, he won an election for the electoral district of Toowong. This meant he became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, which is like the state parliament. He held this important position until he resigned in 1902.
Family Life and Legacy
Thomas Finney was married three times. His first wife was Kate Pringle Little, whom he married in 1864. Sadly, she passed away after only two years. He then married Sidney Anne Jackson. Sidney's sister was married to James Isles, Finney's business partner. Thomas and Sidney had two daughters and one son together. Sidney passed away in 1883. In 1901, while in England, Thomas married Janet Edgar Farrow, who was a widow.
Thomas Finney passed away on December 16, 1903. He was buried in the Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane. He is remembered as a successful businessman who cared about his employees and also served his community as a politician.
