Francis Longmore (1826-1898): Politician in Colonial Victoria

Times Past

Jonathan Smyth

This week we turn our attention to County Monaghan and the story of a prominent 19th century Irish Australian called Francis Longmore. In St Kilda’s Cemetery, Melbourne, the Celtic Cross above his grave carries the following inscription: ‘Erected to the memory of the Honourable Francis Longmore by Irish Australian Catholics to mark their appreciation of his worth as a sterling Irish Nationalist.’ In 1900, Dr O’Donnell had unveiled the cross, which the newspapers noted he ‘handed over to Rev Ronald, in trust of the Longmore family.’

As a child, Francis Longmore attended the same school as his fellow Monaghan man, the celebrated Charles Gavan Duffy. Later, in Australia they both served in the same parliamentary cabinet.

The Longmore family farmed at Tullaree, (likely Tullyree, Glaslough) where they had a farm, described as being just a few miles outside Monaghan Town. Francis was the youngest son of George and Jane Longmore (née Murdoch) and was born in 1826. He was sent to be educated at Mr Blackey's Presbyterian Academy in Monaghan and, as he grew, the family trained young Francis up in the ways of farming in the hope that he might one day take over when George retired.

Fate dealt a rough blow to Mr and Mrs Longmore when their avaricious landlord had them evicted. George, Jane, and the family chose to leave Ireland and as best as possible escape its unpleasant landlord system. Like others in the same boat, they dreamed of finding a more friendly place in which to improve their lives. Sydney, Australia became their destination.

When they arrived in Sydney, they got themselves a farm at Dapto where Francis continued to work for a time. But by 1851, he had other ideas and left the farm to become a commission agent in Sydney. In the following year, he caught wind of a goldrush at Ballarat and took his chances at trying his hand at some prospecting. But it was not something he lasted too long at and two years later he headed back into the Big Smoke of Sydney and joined the business world. His health seems to have given him bother and at ‘various times' he was to return to farming’ and at other times he was employed in ‘mining and commercial agency’ work. In 1856, he took up farming again for a little while on a 96-acre plot of land at Lake Learmonth.

In 1859, Mr Longmore married his sweetheart, Miss Sarah Bankin, with whom he had a family of nine children.

In 1861, he tried running for election but was defeated by Mr Service who secured the seat for Ripon and Hampden. In 1864, Longmore was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the constituency of Ripon and Hampden. Seven years later, he served in Charles Gavan Duffy’s cabinet as the Minister of Railways. Known for his ‘political views’ Longmore fitted in well with the ultra-radicals. In 1877, he was appointed Minister of Lands, but three years on, he was left out of Berry’s cabinet and, in 1883, lost his seat in the election. A reason given for losing the seat was put down to him signing the controversial ‘Grattan address’ in support of Irish Independence and which called for opposition to British rule.

He returned to farming, this time settling at Gippaland and some years later tried unsuccessfully to stand for election again. Then, in 1894 Longmore was finally re-elected having beaten a candidate named Mr Keyes. However, he lost again in 1897 when Keyes reclaimed his old seat.

At the time, his political thinking was quite radical for the people down under. On July 12, 1900, The Toscin, a socialist Australian newspaper, reflecting on Longmore’s views was to speak of his ‘fight for a humane political economy and for the absolute extinction of landlordism.’ Having experienced at firsthand the effects of his parents' eviction in Co Monaghan, he knew what he was talking about. Never-the-less, Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, a fellow Monaghan-native, introduced the commonly named Duffy's Land Act of 1881, which successfully introduced a similar type ‘landlordism’ as could be found in Ireland at that time. This was in direct contrast to Longmore’s attitudes on the matter and many felt Duffy should have known better. The Toscin praised Longmore for having fought to ‘prevent dummyism and wholesale land robbery’ but however noble his aims, he did not win against the powers who supported the outdated feudal system.

Another newspaper, the Advocate, said Francis Longmore worked in the cause of humanity and in recognising ‘that every human creature born into the world has rights of which he should not be deprived, and that something like the mark of Cain is on the forehead of those who would despoil him of his birthright.’ When elected as Railway Minister he helped to improve the working arrangements of railway employees by introducing an eight hour day and when a rail extension to Hamilton was approved, Longmore had the work delayed allowing families squatting in the region to move to an alternative location.

On Sunday, May 1, 1898, Francis Longmore died at his home on Commercial Road, Malvern, Melbourne. He was 72 years old. He had been in fine fettle till a few weeks before his demise, able to visit friends and attend to matters. Longmore was laid to rest in the Presbyterian burial grounds at St Kilda’s Cemetery, near Melbourne. It was noted that he was pre-deceased by two of his sons.

The Celtic Cross mentioned earlier which was placed above his grave, was paid for by Australian Catholics in honour of the work he did to fight injustices against the Irish. One particular journalist summed up Longmore’s feelings towards Ireland perfectly when he said, that he had ‘loved his country and sympathised with her sufferings'. An interesting account of Mr Francis Longmore’s career can be found in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, published in 1974.