Anderson Dawson
Anderson Dawson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 14th Premier of Queensland | |
| In office 1 December 1899 – 7 December 1899 | |
| Preceded by | James Dickson |
| Succeeded by | Robert Philp |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 16, 1863 Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Died | July 20, 1910 (aged 47) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse | Caroline Ryan |
Andrew Dawson (16 July 1863 – 20 July 1910), usually known as Anderson Dawson, was an Australian politician, the Premier of Queensland for one week (1-7 December) in 1899. This premiership was not only the first Australian Labor Party government; it was the first parliamentary socialist government anywhere in the world, and it attracted international newspaper coverage.[1]
Dawson was born at Rockhampton, Queensland. His parents died shortly after his birth and he was placed in a Brisbane orphanage until he was nine, when an uncle took him to Gympie. He began work as a miner at Charters Towers, and later was elected first president of the Miners' Union. He took up journalism and for a time was editor of the local newspaper, The Charters Towers Eagle.[2][3]
In 1893, Dawson entered politics as a Labor candidate for Charters Towers in the Queensland Legislative Assembly; he won the seat, and retained it at the 1896 and 1899 elections. When the government of James Robert Dickson resigned on 1 December 1899, Dawson formed a ministry, which was, however, defeated as soon as the house next met. Subsequently, at the first Federal election for the Senate (1901), he was returned at the head of the Queensland poll. In April 1904 when J.C. Watson formed the first Federal Labour government, Dawson was given the portfolio of Minister for Defence.[2][3]
He lost his seat at the Federal election of December 1906 and died in 1910 in Brisbane.[2]
The Federal electoral division of Dawson is named after him.
Notes
- ^ Blainey, Geoffrey (2000). A shorter history of Australia. Milsons Point, N.S.W.: Vintage. p. 263. ISBN 174051033X.
- ^ a b c Murphy, D. J. (1981). "Dawson, Andrew (1863 - 1910)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
- ^ a b Serle, Percival. "Dawson, Anderson (usually known as Anderson Dawson) (1863-1910)". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Project Gutenberg Australia. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
