Edward Robert Drury
Photo: Item is held by John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons9

Edward Robert Drury

Australian banker1

Edward Robert Drury (1832–1896) was a banker in Queensland, Australia. He was the first general manager of the Queensland National Bank which played a major role in Queensland finance in the late 19th century.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Edward Robert Drury (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born 1832, died 1896.1

Companies

Early life and education

Edward Robert Drury was born in 1832 in Brussels, Belgium, the son of the Rev. William James Joseph Drury (chaplain to the British Embassy in Brussels and tutor of Leopold II of Belgium) and his wife Anne (née Nicholas).

Drury immigrated to Australia in 1852.

From Wikipedia’s article on Edward Robert Drury (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: banker.4

Business career

Drury was employed by the Bank of Australasia in 1853. In 1860 he was promoted to manager of their Brisbane branch.

In 1872, he was appointed the general manager of the new Queensland National Bank, a role he held until his death in 1896. He was the President of the Australian Association of Bankers from June 1894 to June 1895. Drury was professionally and personally committed to promoting development of the colony of Queensland. In both his banking role at the Queensland National Bank and his personal business activities, he was very involved with investment in mining, agriculture and land development.

In addition to his banking career, he was the Consul for Belgium for which he was made a Knight of the Order of Leopold.

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Military career

When the Crimean War broke out in 1854, Drury was one of the first to volunteer for the New South Wales Volunteer Rifles. On 15 November 1860, he received his commission as captain. He excelled at rifle shooting and won a silver medal in an 1854 Queensland competition of the National Rifle Association of England. He was a founder of the Queensland Rifle Association. In 1876 he was gazetted as a major in the Queensland Volunteer Artillery. In 1884 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and took command of the field artillery. In 1891 he became a Colonel and served as Commandant of the Queensland Defence Force on a number of occasions. In 1885, he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his contribution to colonial defence. He was one of the oldest officers on the active list.

From Wikipedia’s article on Edward Robert Drury (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • Born1832, Brussels5
  • CitizenshipUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland6

Awards

  • 1885Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George7

Sources

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