Burford Sampson

Burford Sampson
Senator for Tasmania
In office
14 November 1925 – 30 June 1938
Preceded byCharles Grant
In office
1 July 1941 – 30 June 1947
Personal details
Born(1882-03-30)30 March 1882
Launceston, Tasmania
Died5 June 1959(1959-06-05) (aged 77)
Pennant Hills, New South Wales
Political partyNationalist (1925–31)
UAP (1931–45)
Liberal (1945–47)
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Australia
Branch/serviceSouth African Constabulary
British South Africa Police
Australian Army
Years of service1901–1903
1903–1907
1907–1931
1940–1941
RankColonel
Commands12th Battalion
15th Battalion
Battles/warsSecond Boer War
First World War
Second World War
AwardsDistinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches
Burford Sampson in 1915

Burford Sampson DSO (30 March 1882 – 5 June 1959) was an Australian politician and soldier. Born in Launceston, Tasmania, he was educated at Launceston Grammar School before serving in the military 1899–1901, during the Second Boer War. He remained in Africa, serving with the Rhodesian Mountain Police and farming in South Africa. He returned to Tasmania in 1907 as a farmer. He served in World War I (1914–1918) and was at the landing at Gallipoli, before serving on the Western Front and briefly commanding the 15th Battalion during their final battle around Jeancourt in September 1918.[1] After the war, he became a manager in Launceston. In 1925, he was elected to the Australian Senate as a Nationalist Senator for Tasmania. Sampson served as Chairman of Committees from 1935 to 1938.[2] He was defeated at the 1937 federal election (his term finishing in June 1938), but was re-elected in 1940. He was defeated again in 1946 as a Liberal.[3][4]

Sampson died in 1959, aged 77.[3]

  1. ^ Chataway, Thomas (1948). Goldenstedt, Paul (ed.). History of the 15th Battalion 1914–1918. Fortitude Valley, Queensland: William Brooks & Co. p. 231. OCLC 35124181.
  2. ^ "Appendix 3―Deputy Presidents and Chairmen of Committees (1901–2009)". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b Marshall, Tony (2004). "SAMPSON, Burford (1882–1959)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  4. ^ Carr, Adam (2008). "1946 Senate election: Tasmania". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 16 January 2023.