Frederick Tout
Frederick Henry Tout was an Australian solicitor, pastoralist, businessman and politician who was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for 14 years. He was president of the Bank of New South Wales.Early life
Tout was born in Calabash near Young, New South Wales, the son of Samuel Tout, grazier, and Sarah née Kelly. He attended Fort Street Model School and Newington College where he was Captain of rugby union.Career
Tout was admitted as a solicitor in 1897 and married in the same year. He practised as a solicitor in Sydney and Boorowa, New South Wales, until 1907. After taking over a part of his father's property he became a successful farmer, grazier and breeder of Aberdeen Angus. He was a member of the Burrangong Shire Council from 1911–1922, 1923–1924, and again from 1936–1937. Tout was active in a broad range of rural and local activities and from the 1930s he became a force in conservative State politics. in 1932 he attended the Imperial Economic Conference, Ottawa, and in 1933 became president of the Australian Economic Advisory Council. From 1932 until 1946 he was a member of the NSW Upper House. In business he served as a director of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, Goldsbrough Mort & Co., the Graziers' Co-operative Shearing Co. Ltd, Associated Newspapers Ltd, Expeditionary Films Ltd, the McGarvie Smith Institute and the Commercial Union Assurance Company. Tout was Knighted in the 1935 Birthday Honours.
From 1945 until 1950 he was president of the Bank of New South Wales. After the death of his first wife he married again in 1945. Tout was survived by her, and by two sons and a daughter of his first marriage.
