Thomas Laidlaw (politician)

Thomas Laidlaw (23 September 1813 – 12 June 1876) was a Scottish-born Australian politician.

He was born at Melrose in Roxburghshire to merchant Alexander Laidlaw and Helen Cochrane. A banker, he migrated to New South Wales in 1839 and settled at Yass, where he became a partner in a general store. In 1841 he married Catherine Galvin, however she died the following year and they had no children.^[1]

In 1859 he was elected unopposed to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Yass Plains, but immediately resigned as he realised his role as deputy postmaster at Yass, on a salary of £20 a year, was an office of profit under the crown which disqualified him from parliament. He resigned as postmaster and was re-elected unopposed.^[2] He declined the position of Colonial Treasurer in the second Cowper ministry. He did not re-contest in 1860 and could not be persuaded to stand for parliament again.^[1] He remained active in local politics, supporting the re-election of Robert Isaacs in 1866. He was nominated at the election in 1869, however this was without his consent as he supported the candidacy of Michael Fitzpatrick.^[3]

In 1866 he sold his store, which had now expanded to include brewery and post office, and became a pastoralist.^[4]

Laidlaw died at Yass on 12 June 1876(1876-06-12) (aged 62).^[5]