John Douglas (Queensland politician)
The Hon John Douglas CMG | |
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7th Premier of Queensland | |
In office 8 March 1877 – 21 January 1879 | |
Preceded by | George Thorn |
Succeeded by | Thomas McIlwraith |
Constituency | Maryborough |
5th Treasurer of Queensland | |
In office 19 Dec 1866 – 21 May 1867 | |
Preceded by | John Donald McLean |
Succeeded by | Thomas Blacket Stephens |
Constituency | Eastern Downs |
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Darling Downs | |
In office 5 July 1859 – 10 December 1859 Serving with William Handcock | |
Preceded by | William Wild |
Succeeded by | David Bell |
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Camden | |
In office 21 December 1860 – 17 July 1861 | |
Preceded by | William Wild |
Succeeded by | David Bell |
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Port Curtis | |
In office 14 June 1863 – 1 February 1866 | |
Preceded by | Alfred Sandeman |
Succeeded by | Arthur Palmer |
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Eastern Downs | |
In office 4 January 1867 – 18 September 1868 | |
Preceded by | John Donald McLean |
Succeeded by | Arthur Macalister |
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for East Moreton | |
In office 28 September 1868 – 16 December 1868 Serving with Arthur Francis | |
Preceded by | James Garrick |
Succeeded by | Henry Jordan |
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Maryborough | |
In office 27 April 1875 – 24 November 1880 Serving with Henry King | |
Preceded by | Berkeley Basil Moreton |
Succeeded by | Henry Palmer |
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council | |
In office 22 February 1866 – 25 July 1866 | |
In office 11 December 1868 – 13 November 1869 | |
Personal details | |
Born |
London, England, UK ![]() | 6 March 1828
Died |
23 July 1904 76) Thursday Island, Queensland, Australia ![]() | (aged
Spouse(s) |
Mary Ann Howe Sarah Hickey |
Relations | Henry Douglas (son), Alex Douglas (great grandson) |
Occupation | Squatter, Civil Servant |
Religion | Anglican |
John Douglas CMG (6 March 1828 – 23 July 1904) was an Anglo-Australian politician and Premier of Queensland.[1]
Early life
Douglas was born in London, the seventh son of Henry Alexander Douglas[1] and his wife Elizabeth Dalzell, daughter of the Earl of Carnwath. His father was the third son of Sir William Douglas (c.1730–1783), fourth Baronet Douglas of Kelhead, who was a brother of the sixth and seventh Marquess of Queensberry. Douglas' parents died in 1837, he was educated at Harrow, Rugby 1843-47 and Durham University where he graduated B.A. in 1850.
Douglas arrived in New South Wales with his brother Edward in 1851 and was appointed a gold-fields commissioner, but gave this up to enter on a pastoral life.
Politics
Douglas was elected member for the Darling Downs and afterwards for Camden in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly until resigning on 17 July 1861.
He moved to Queensland in 1863.
On 12 May 1863 he was elected as member for Port Curtis in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. He resigned on 1 February 1866, in order to be appointed on to the Queensland Legislative Council, which occurred on 22 February 1866.[2]
On 1 March 1866 became postmaster-general in the first Macalister ministry.[2]
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly again as member for Eastern Downs. He took the portfolio of colonial treasurer in the second Macalister ministry in December 1866, but in May 1867 changed this position for that of secretary for public works. He was postmaster-general in the Charles Lilley ministry from December 1868 to November 1869, when he resigned to become Agent-General for Queensland in London.
In 1871 Douglas returned to Queensland and became insolvent on 23 February 1872. Douglas was returned for Maryborough at the election held in 1875. He was secretary for public lands in the Thorn ministry from June 1876 until March 1877, when he became premier and was given the honour of C.M.G. His party was defeated at the election held in January 1879 and Douglas gave up politics. Lewis Adolphus Bernays claimed Douglas had more success as a clever political wire-puller behind the scenes than he had in parliament.[3]
Later life
He was for some time on the literary staff of the Brisbane Courier, and in 1885 was appointed government resident and magistrate at Thursday Island. After the death of Sir Peter Scratchley in December 1885 Douglas acted as special commissioner for the protectorate of British New Guinea for nearly three years (1886–88), and showed tact and ability in his dealings with the local inhabitants.
In 1888 Douglas returned to his old position on Thursday Island. He visited England in 1902 and on his return continued his work until his death at Thursday Island.
Family
Douglas was married twice, first on the 22nd January 1861 to Mary Ann, daughter of the Rev. William West Simpson, who was killed in a carriage accident 23 November 1876, and for the second time in 1877 to Sarah, daughter of Michael Hickey with whom he had four sons:
- Robert Johnstone Douglas, (1883–1972), was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1923 [4] and married Annie Alice May Ball, daughter of Townsville pioneer Andrew Ball
- Edward Archibald Douglas, (1877–1947), was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in March 1929 [5]
- Henry Alexander Cecil Douglas, (1879–1917), Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
- Alexander Michael Douglas, (1926 - )
- Alexander Rodney Douglas, the recent member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Gaven, is the great grandson of John Douglas
- Alexander Michael Douglas, (1926 - )
- Hugh Maxwell Douglas, (1881–1918) - Died 8 April 1918 aged 37, a Lieutenant in 47th Battalion, Australian Army, while fighting in World War 1 at Dernacourt in France.
See also
- Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1860–1863; 1863–1867; 1867–1868; 1868–1870; 1873–1878; 1878–1883
- Members of the Queensland Legislative Council, 1860–1869
References
- 1 2 Serle, Percival (1949). "Douglas, John". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- 1 2 "Alphabetical Register of Members of the Legislative Assembly 1860-2012 and the Legislative Council 1860-1922" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ↑ Joyce, R. B. "Douglas, John (1828 - 1904)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ↑ McPherson, B. H. Douglas, Robert Johnstone (1883–1972). Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
- ↑ McPherson, B. H. Douglas, Edward Archibald (1877–1947). Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
- Mennell, Philip (1892). "
Douglas, Hon. John". The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co. Wikisource
http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/roll_of_honour/person.asp?p=574130
External links
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Political offices | ||
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Preceded by George Thorn |
Premier of Queensland 1877 – 1879 |
Succeeded by Thomas McIlwraith |
Parliament of New South Wales | ||
Preceded by New seat |
Member for Darling Downs 1859 Served alongside: William Handcock |
Succeeded by Abolished |
Preceded by William Wild |
Member for Camden 1860 – 1861 Served alongside: John Morrice |
Succeeded by David Bell |
Parliament of Queensland | ||
Preceded by Alfred Sandeman |
Member for Port Curtis 1863 – 1866 |
Succeeded by Arthur Palmer |
Preceded by John Donald McLean |
Member for Eastern Downs 1867 – 1868 |
Succeeded by Arthur Macalister |
Preceded by James Garrick |
Member for East Moreton 1868 Served alongside: Arthur Francis |
Succeeded by Henry Jordan |
Preceded by Berkeley Basil Moreton |
Member for Maryborough 1875 – 1880 Served alongside: Henry King |
Succeeded by Henry Palmer |