Former
Speakers

Francis Conway Mason
1843-1915
Speaker: 1897-1902
Legislative Assembly: 1871-1877, 1878-1886, 1889-1902

Mason was born in Ireland, and was employed at the East India Docks before emigrating to Australia in approximately 1863. He was employed as a schoolmaster between 1865 and 1867 and later as an official visitor of metropolitan lunatic asylums. In 1868 he married Henrietta Emily Dove, and in 1871 won the Legislative Assembly seat of East Gippsland from the Attorney-General, Archibald Michie. He held the seat until 1877, but regained it in 1878 and held it until 1886.

In parliament Mason supported Graham Berry's policies, and worked hard to obtain public works and railways in his electorate. After his defeat in 1886 he successfully contested the seat in 1889, and became Chairman of Committees in the Shiels government. He remained Chairman of Committees until 1897, when he became Speaker and retained the position until he lost his seat in the general election of 1902.

After this last defeat he retired from politics, although he was an Honorary Magistrate in Hawthorn and Camberwell, and the Chairman of several Wages Boards. At his death in South Yarra he was survived by his wife and four of their six children.