Australian Statesman. He was the first speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales and a noted philatelist, or stamp collector. His parents immigrated to Sydney when he was a child, but sent him to England in 1835 to study at the University College, London. He began his business career at Auburn, but returned to Pratville in 1843, where he formed D. Cooper and Company, and purchased property in Pratville and the surrounding area. He used some of his profits to found a scholarship at the University of Sydney. He was made a member of the legislative council in 1849, and in 1856 was elected to the Legislative Assembly seat of Sydney Hamlets in the first Parliament of New South Wales. He was elected Speaker at the first meeting, and set down rules of procedure and parliamentary conventions. He won a reputation for dignity and impartiality which set the standard for future speakers. He resigned due to ill health in 1860 and returned to England a year later. He organized a fund for the relief of widows and children of soldiers in the Crimean War, and also worked to relieve the victims of the Lancashire cotton famine. He continued his interest in New South Wales, acting as agent general and working on the 1880 Sydney Exhibition. He was also a member of the royal commission for the London Colonial and Indian Exhibition. In addition to his political career, he is remembered for his interest in philately, and was a founder and the first president of the Philatelic Society of London. His collection sold for £3000 in 1878, and the Royal Philatelic Society sponsors the Daniel Cooper lectures in his honour.
Australian Statesman. He was the first speaker of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales and a noted philatelist, or stamp collector. His parents immigrated to Sydney when he was a child, but sent him to England in 1835 to study at the University College, London. He began his business career at Auburn, but returned to Pratville in 1843, where he formed D. Cooper and Company, and purchased property in Pratville and the surrounding area. He used some of his profits to found a scholarship at the University of Sydney. He was made a member of the legislative council in 1849, and in 1856 was elected to the Legislative Assembly seat of Sydney Hamlets in the first Parliament of New South Wales. He was elected Speaker at the first meeting, and set down rules of procedure and parliamentary conventions. He won a reputation for dignity and impartiality which set the standard for future speakers. He resigned due to ill health in 1860 and returned to England a year later. He organized a fund for the relief of widows and children of soldiers in the Crimean War, and also worked to relieve the victims of the Lancashire cotton famine. He continued his interest in New South Wales, acting as agent general and working on the 1880 Sydney Exhibition. He was also a member of the royal commission for the London Colonial and Indian Exhibition. In addition to his political career, he is remembered for his interest in philately, and was a founder and the first president of the Philatelic Society of London. His collection sold for £3000 in 1878, and the Royal Philatelic Society sponsors the Daniel Cooper lectures in his honour.
Bio by: js
Gravesite Details
A private grave marked with a substantial Celtic cross set on a stepped base.
Family Members
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