The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Norton, Hon. Albert
Norton, Hon. Albert, M.L.A., Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Queensland, was born at Elswick, near Sydney, on Jan. 1st, 1836, and educated at Wilkinson's School, near that city. In 1860 he removed to Queensland, and settled at Rodd's Bay Station, near Gladstone, in 1861. Five years later he unsuccessfully contested Port Curtis with Sir A. H. Palmer, and the next year (1887) was summoned to the Legislative Council. He only, however, sat in the Upper House for one session, being returned to the Assembly without opposition for Port Curtis (which he still represents) in 1868. In March 1883, on the resignation of Mr. Macrossan, he accepted office as Minister for Works and Mines in the first McIlwraith Ministry, retiring with his colleagues in the following November. On the meeting of Parliament after the general election of 1888 Mr. Norton was unanimously elected Speaker of the House of Assembly.