Ratcliffe Pring

His Honour the Honourable Ratcliffe Pring (17 October 1825 – 26 March 1885) was a lawyer, politician and the first Attorney-General in colonial Queensland.

Early life Pring was born on 17 October 1825 at Crediton, Devon, England, the second son of Thomas E. Pring, solicitor. He was educated at Shrewsbury School, and entered at the Inner Temple in November 1845, being called to the Bar in June 1849.

Political life On 27 March 1860 Pring was elected to the first Legislative Assembly of Queensland for the district of Eastern Downs, and served under (later Sir) Robert Herbert as Attorney-General in the first Ministry formed under responsible government from December 1859 to August 1865.

Pring served as member of the Queensland Legislative Council from 24 April 1862 to 26 May 1863. He also served in the Assembly for Ipswich from 30 May 1863 to 4 August 1866; for Burnett from 22 April 1867 to 17 August 1870.

He was elected in Town of Brisbane on 17 August 1870.

He was elected in Carnarvon from 25 November 1873 to 2 January 1874.

However, Pring was later elected in Brisbane City from 12 February 1878 to 15 November 1878 and for Fortitude Valley from 26 November 1878 to 28 May 1879. He was buried in Toowong Cemetery. He left his wife almost destitute.

Miscellaneous Ratcliffe Pring was a tenant of the now heritage-listed Newstead House in Brisbane.