Nationality Cornish Australian Relations Nellie Martel (sister) | Occupation Engineer Name David Charleston | |
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Born 27 May 1848
St Erth, Cornwall, England ( 1848-05-27 ) Died 20 June 1934(1934-06-20) (aged 86) Political party Labor (1891–97)
Free Trade (1897–1903) | ||
David Morley Charleston (27 May 1848 – 20 June 1934) was an Cornish-born, Australian politician. Born in St Erth, Cornwall, he received only a primary education before becoming an apprentice engineer, and later an engineering unionist and marine engineer. Migrating to Australia in 1884, he continued his engineering work with the Adelaide Steamship Company, but resigned in 1887 after labour troubles. He subsequently became President of the Adelaide Trades and Labour Council.
In 1891 he was elected to the South Australian Legislative Council as a Labor member, but he left the Labor Party in 1897. Leaving the Council in 1901, he was elected to the Australian Senate as a Free Trader. He was defeated in 1903, and was later General Secretary of the Farmers and Producers Political Union. Several attempts to re-enter the Senate were unsuccessful. Charleston died in 1934.
Charleston's sister was the suffragist Nellie Martel.