Benjamin Cribb

Benjamin Cribb (7 November 1807 – 11 March 1874) was an Australian businessman and politician. He was an unaligned Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for one term in 1858–1859 and a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly in 1861–1867 and again in 1870–1873.

Early life Cribb was born in Poole, Dorset, England into a rigidly Nonconformist family. He was educated at his mother's Dame school. Cribb's father, John Galpin Cribb, was a mariner and ship owner, operating to Newfoundland and the Mediterranean; young Benjamin and his brother Robert sometimes accompanied their father. However, this ended when their father was killed in action during the Napoleonic Wars. Following his father's death, Cribb's mother Mary Cribb (née Dirham) apprenticed Benjamin and his brother Robert to two merchants.

By 1832 Benjamin and his brother Robert had established baking and retail businesses in London. Influenced by John Dunmore Lang's description of the opportunities available in Australia, they migrated to Moreton Bay on the Chaseley arriving in May 1849.

Benjamin Cribb was married twice, in 1839 to Elizabeth Bridson (1810–1852) and in 1853 to Clarissa Kendal Foote (1825–1899). Two of his sons Thomas, and James, also served in the Queensland Parliament. His brother Robert Cribb also served in both the New South Wales and Queensland Parliaments.

Business After arriving in the Moreton Bay colony, Benjamin Cribb established a retail business in Ipswich. In about 1852, he employed John Clarke Foote as a store manager. In 1853, Benjamin Cribb married Clarissa Foote, the sister of John Clarke Foote. In 1854, Benjamin Cribb and John Clarke Foote went into partnership as Cribb & Foote, creating the major department store that stood on the corner of Bell and Brisbane Streets.

During the American Civil War he encouraged the growth and export of Australian cotton.

Parliament On 1 February 1858, Cribb was elected to represent Stanley Boroughs in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly at the 1858 election. He was a strong supporter of the separation of the colony of Queensland and opposed the use of convicts, coolies or Kanaks as cheap labour. He was defeated at the 1859 election on 11 April 1859.

After the separation of Queensland, he was elected to its Legislative Assembly. On 3 April 1861, George Thorn (senior), member for West Moreton, resigned. Benjamin Cribb won the resulting by-election on 26 April 1861. He held the seat until 2 July 1867.

Later life Benjamin Cribb died on 11 March 1874 at his home Gooloowan in Denmark Hill, Ipswich. He was attending divine service at his local Congregational Church when he collapsed. Relatives and friends carried him home on a stretcher where he died a few moments later. His death was attributed to apoplexy of the brain.

Legacy His home Gooloowan is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.