Anderson Dawson

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Anderson Dawson
Anderson Dawson
In office
1 December 1899 – 7 December 1899
Preceded by James Dickson
Succeeded by Robert Philp
Born July 16, 1863(1863-07-16)
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.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Blainey, Geoffrey (2000). A shorter history of Australia. Milsons Point, N.S.W.: Vintage, 263. ISBN 174051033X. 
  2. ^ a b c Murphy, D. J. (1981). Dawson, Andrew (1863 - 1910). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
  3. ^ a b Serle, Percival. Dawson, Anderson (usually known as Anderson Dawson) (1863-1910). Dictionary of Australian Biography. Project Gutenberg Australia. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
Political offices
Preceded by
James Dickson		 Premier of Queensland
1899		 Succeeded by
Robert Philp
Preceded by
Austin Chapman		 Minister for Defence
1904		 Succeeded by
James Whiteside McCay
v • d • e
Premiers of Queensland
Herbert • Macalister • Mackenzie • Lilley • Palmer • Thorn • Douglas • McIlwraith • Griffith • Morehead • Nelson • Byrnes • Dickson • Dawson • Philp • Morgan • Kidston • Denham • Ryan • Theodore • Gillies • McCormack • Moore • Forgan Smith • F Cooper • Hanlon • Gair • Nicklin • Pizzey • Chalk • Bjelke-Petersen • Ahern • R Cooper • Goss • Borbidge • Beattie • Bligh
 Flag of Queensland
Persondata
NAME Dawson, Anderson
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Australian politician
DATE OF BIRTH 16 July 1863
PLACE OF BIRTH Rockhampton, Queensland
DATE OF DEATH 20 July 1910
PLACE OF DEATH Brisbane