William Byrnes

{{Short description|Australian politician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}

{{Use Australian English|date=November 2016}}

William Byrnes (2 June 1809 – 25 October 1891) was an Australian politician.

He was born in Parramatta to James and Frances Byrnes; his father was a member of the New South Wales Corps. He was an apprentice saddler before pioneering steam ferries on the Parramatta River with his brother James. On 6 December 1834 he married Ann Oakes, daughter of MLC Francis Oakes and they had fourteen children.

In the 1840s the brothers ran a flour mill, and they continued to run mills and stores thereafter.{{cite AuDB |id2=byrnes-william-3334 |title=Byrnes, William (1809–1891) |first=G P |last=Walsh |year=1969 |access-date=20 April 2019}} Byrnes was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from August 1858 to May 1861 and from September 1861 until his death at Parramatta in October 1891.{{Cite NSW Parliament |id=345 |name=Mr William Byrnes (1809-1891) |former=Yes |access-date=20 April 2019}}

His brother James was a member of the NSW Parliament at various times between 1850 and 1872.{{Cite NSW Parliament |id=312 |name=Mr James Byrnes (1806-1886) |former=Yes |access-date=20 April 2019}} His nephew, Charles, James' youngest son was also a member of the Legislative Assembly between 1874 and 1882.{{Cite NSW Parliament |id=685 |name=Mr Charles Byrnes (1835-1917) |former=Yes |access-date=20 April 2019}}