Arthur Addison

Arthur Richman Addison (17 May 1842 – 29 July 1915) was an Australian politician who served as the Chairman of the Encounter Bay District Council and later as a Member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1888 until his death in 1915.

Early life and career Addison was born in Adelaide on 17 May 1842. His parents, Thomas Plummer Addison and Eliza, arrived in South Australia aboard the Pestonjee Bomanjee, during October 1838. Thomas served for many years as deputy collector of Customs of South Australia.

He was educated at St Peter's College, and on leaving found employment with Younghusband and Cadell's River Murray Navigation Company. After three years he worked for the National Bank, then four years with the Bank of South Australia, mostly at the bank's Port Elliot branch.

Family He was twice married. His first wife, Elizabeth Bowman (c. 1849 – 12 January 1889), was a daughter of his partner William Bowman. They married on 12 May 1870 and had nine children. Arthur married again in 1893, to Adelaide Williams.

A son, Walter Colman Addison (died 18 July 1951), was a champion target rifle shooter, winning the King's Prize at Bisley in 1907. He married Gertrude Madeleine Woods (19 Oct 1872 – ), daughter of E. J. Woods, on 8 May 1900. Their son Gerald Bowman Addison (died 1994) was also a noted marksman.

Harold Mayo Addison (c. 1847 – 14 June 1941), first chairman of trustees of the Savings Bank of South Australia, was a brother. He married Meta Louise Nixon, née Pelzer, (his second wife, died 8 January 1934) on 1 March 1904 after considerable publicity, she having been the subject of attempted murder by her first husband.