Alfred Piesse | |
---|---|
Deputy Leader of the Country Party in Western Australia |
|
In office 31 March 1915 – 12 May 1921 |
|
Leader |
Francis Willmott Tom Harrison |
Preceded by | Francis Willmott |
Succeeded by | Alec Thomson |
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia |
|
In office 3 October 1911 – 22 March 1924 |
|
Preceded by | Timothy Quinlan |
Succeeded by | John Lindsay |
Constituency | Toodyay |
Personal details | |
Born |
Guildford, Western Australia, Australia |
17 July 1866
Died | 15 June 1939 Kendenup, Western Australia, Australia |
(aged 72)
Political party |
Liberal (to 1914) Country (after 1914) |
Alfred Napoleon Piesse (17 July 1866 – 15 June 1939) was an Australian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1911 to 1924, representing the seat of Toodyay. He joined the Country Party upon its formation in 1914, and served as state deputy leader from 1915 to 1921, initially under Francis Willmott and then under Tom Harrison.
Piesse was born in Guildford, Western Australia, to Elizabeth Ellen (née Oxley) and William Roper Piesse. Three of his brothers, Arnold, Charles, and Frederick Piesse, were also members of parliament. After leaving school, Piesse initially worked as a post office messenger, and then joined the Telegraph Department. As a telegraphist, he worked in various remote locations in Western Australia, including Esperance, Eucla (on the border with South Australia), Bremer Bay, and Israelite Bay. Piesse left the Telegraph Department and moved to Toodyay in 1894, working variously as a court clerk, magistrate, and tax collector. He was elected to the Toodyay Road Board in 1907, and served as its chairman from 1907 to 1912.
Piesse entered parliament at the 1911 state election, defeating the sitting Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Timothy Quinlan, in the seat of Toodyay. Elected as a member of Liberal Party, he joined the Country Party upon its formation in 1914, and became one of its first members in parliament. In March 1915, Piesse was elected deputy leader of the party, at the same time as Francis Willmott was elected leader. He remained deputy leader under Tom Harrison, who replaced Willmott in July 1919, but in May 1921 was replaced by Alec Thomson, instead becoming party whip.