Mark Morton (politician)
Mark Fairles Morton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Near Nowra, Australia |
| Died | 28 September 1938 (aged 73) |
| Occupation(s) | Auctioneer, politician |
| Years active | 1896–1938 |
| Known for | Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Mayor of Nowra, member of Aborigines Protection Board |
Mark Fairles Morton (28 September 1865 – 28 September 1938) was an Australian auctioneer and politician.
He was born near Nowra to Henry Gordon Morton, a surveyor, and Jane Fairlies. After attending schools in the area, he initially worked on constructing the Shoalhaven River bridge and later became a stock agent. Eventually establishing himself as an auctioneer in Nowra, Morton joined the Nowra Council in 1896 and served as mayor in 1901. Additionally, he was appointed to the Aborigines Protection Board, where he served from 1906 until 1916.
Morton was married twice: first to Minnie Fuller in 1907, with whom he had one son, and later to Sarah Emily Fuller in 1919. His family had strong political ties, including his brothers Philip and Henry Morton, his nephew Pat Morton, and his brother-in-law George Fuller, who served as Premier of New South Wales—all of whom held seats in the New South Wales Parliament.
In 1901, Morton secured election to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the Shoalhaven seat as a member of the Liberal party. The district was renamed Allowrie in 1904. By 1920, affiliated with the Nationalist Party, he lost his legislative seat but made a comeback in 1922 as the representative for Wollondilly. After being defeated again in 1925, he regained his position in 1928 and continued to serve until his passing in 1938.
The Morton National Park bears his name as a tribute.