Arthur Morgan (Queensland politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur Morgan was the Premier of Queensland
, Australia
from 1903 to 1906.
Morgan was born in Warwick
, Queensland, the fourth son of James Morgan (who later represented Warwick, in the Queensland Legislative Assembly
and became chairman of committees) and his wife Kate, née Barton. Arthur Morgan was educated at the public school at Warwick, and then joined the staff of the Warwick Argus which was owned and edited by his father. Morgan married Alice Augusta Clinton (daughter of H. E. Clinton) on 26 July 1880. Morgan became a member of the Warwick Municipal Council
in 1885 and served as mayor 1886-90 and 1898. In 1883 he was elected a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for the district of Warwick
, held his seat until 1896, and was re-elected in 1899. In that year he was chosen as Speaker
.
In 1903 Robert Philp
resigned on account of defections from his party, and the leader of the Labour party being unable to form
a ministry, Morgan was asked to lead a combination of some of the liberals and the Labour party. He resigned the speakership,
formed a ministry, and became premier, chief secretary, secretary for railways and vice-president of the executive council. A policy of retrenchment was carried out which gave Morgan some temporary unpopularity, and his combining with the Labour party was much questioned by his former associates. The position, however, was one of some difficulty when Philp resigned, as at the moment there appeared to be no outstanding man to take his place, and Morgan felt it to be his duty to carry on a government. In January 1906, after the death of Sir Hugh Nelson
, he was appointed president of the Queensland Legislative Council
and on two occasions was acting-governor. In 1908 he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Queensland. In his later years Morgan's health was not good and he died on 20 December 1916. Morgan was survived by his wife, five sons and three daughters. He published in 1902, Discovery and Development of the Downs; he was knighted in 1907.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from 1903 to 1906.
Morgan was born in Warwick
Warwick, Queensland
Warwick is a town in Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Local Government Area. In 2006 the town of Warwick had a population of 12,562....
, Queensland, the fourth son of James Morgan (who later represented Warwick, in the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
and became chairman of committees) and his wife Kate, née Barton. Arthur Morgan was educated at the public school at Warwick, and then joined the staff of the Warwick Argus which was owned and edited by his father. Morgan married Alice Augusta Clinton (daughter of H. E. Clinton) on 26 July 1880. Morgan became a member of the Warwick Municipal Council
City of Warwick
The City of Warwick was a Local Government Area administering the regional centre of Warwick in the Darling Downs region of Queensland. The City covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1861 until 1994, when it was dissolved and amalgamated with Shire of Allora, Shire of...
in 1885 and served as mayor 1886-90 and 1898. In 1883 he was elected a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for the district of Warwick
Electoral district of Warwick
Warwick was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland from 1860 to 2001. It centred on the town of Warwick....
, held his seat until 1896, and was re-elected in 1899. In that year he was chosen as Speaker
Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly is a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, elected by the whole Parliament to preside over sittings of the Assembly and to maintain orderly proceedings. The Speaker is supported in his role by officers of the Parliamentary Service,...
.
In 1903 Robert Philp
Robert Philp
Sir Robert Philp, KCMG was a Queensland businessman and politician who was Premier of Queensland from December 1899 to September 1903 and again from November 1907 to February 1908.-Early life:...
resigned on account of defections from his party, and the leader of the Labour party being unable to form
a ministry, Morgan was asked to lead a combination of some of the liberals and the Labour party. He resigned the speakership,
formed a ministry, and became premier, chief secretary, secretary for railways and vice-president of the executive council. A policy of retrenchment was carried out which gave Morgan some temporary unpopularity, and his combining with the Labour party was much questioned by his former associates. The position, however, was one of some difficulty when Philp resigned, as at the moment there appeared to be no outstanding man to take his place, and Morgan felt it to be his duty to carry on a government. In January 1906, after the death of Sir Hugh Nelson
Hugh Nelson
Sir Hugh Muir Nelson, KCMG was Premier of Queensland from 1893 to 1898.Nelson was born at Kilmarnock, Scotland. His father, Dr William Lambie Nelson, was elected to the first Queensland parliament in 1860 but was unseated because he was a minister of religion...
, he was appointed president of the Queensland Legislative Council
Queensland Legislative Council
The Queensland Legislative Council was the upper house of the parliament in the Australian state of Queensland. It was a fully nominated body which first took office on 1 May 1860. It was abolished by the Constitution Amendment Act 1921, which took effect on 23 March 1922.Consequently, the...
and on two occasions was acting-governor. In 1908 he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Queensland. In his later years Morgan's health was not good and he died on 20 December 1916. Morgan was survived by his wife, five sons and three daughters. He published in 1902, Discovery and Development of the Downs; he was knighted in 1907.