Born in Morpeth, New South Wales, he was schooled in Maitland before becoming a bricklayer, builder and contractor.

[2] Multi-member electorates were abolished for the 1894 election and Lonsdale was the Free Trade candidate for Armidale, however he was unsuccessful.

[4] He only held the seat for one term, defeated by Charles Wilson at the 1898 election, with 43.7% of the vote.

[11] Lonsdale was severely injured when hit by a motor car at Hill Street, Uralla, on the evening of 4 October 1913; he died soon after while being transported to Armidale Hospital on a freight train.

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