Henry Dobson
Encyclopedia
Henry Dobson was an Australia
n politician, who served as a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
and later of the Australian Senate
. He was the 17th Premier of Tasmania from 17 August 1892 to 14 April 1894.
, Van Diemen's Land
(now Tasmania
), Dobson was educated at The Hutchins School
and worked for a merchant firm before commencing legal training with Allport, Robson & Allport. He was admitted to the Tasmanian Bar
in 1846, and partnered with William Giblin
from 1865 to 1870, and was a senior partner
in the law firm
Dobson, Mitchell & Allport (started by his father).
representing the electorate of Brighton
. He was quickly made Leader of the Opposition
the next month, and became Premier of Tasmania on 17 August 1892 after the fall of Philip Fysh
's government.
Dobson had a keen interest in education, and introduced compulsory education
legislation into the Tasmanian parliament. He also promoted Tasmania as a tourist destination and fruit-growing centre, attributes which it remains known for today. Economic factors required him to make difficult decisions, and when a proposed retrenchment program was rejected in the Parliament, Dobson obtained a dissolution
from the Governor, and then resigned as Premier on 14 April 1894 when the situation remained unchanged after the election.
After retiring as Premier, Dobson remained in his seat until he retired on 9 March 1900.
, and when federation took place in 1901, Dobson was elected as a member of the first Australian Senate
for Tasmania. He remained in the Senate for over nine years, but retired when he lost the election on 30 June 1910.
Dobson died on 10 October 1918 in Hobart
.
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...
n politician, who served as a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
and later of the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
. He was the 17th Premier of Tasmania from 17 August 1892 to 14 April 1894.
Early life and legal career
Born in Hobart TownHobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
(now Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
), Dobson was educated at The Hutchins School
The Hutchins School
The Hutchins School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school for boys, located in Sandy Bay, a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia....
and worked for a merchant firm before commencing legal training with Allport, Robson & Allport. He was admitted to the Tasmanian Bar
Bar council
A bar council , in a Commonwealth country and in the Republic of Ireland, the Bar Council of Ireland is a professional body that regulates the profession of barristers together with the King's Inns. Solicitors are generally regulated by the Law society....
in 1846, and partnered with William Giblin
William Giblin
William Robert Giblin was Premier of Tasmania from 5 March 1878 until 20 December 1878 and from 1879 until 1884.-Early life:...
from 1865 to 1870, and was a senior partner
Partner (business rank)
A partner in a law firm, accounting firm, consulting firm, or financial firm is a highly ranked position. Originally, these businesses were set up as legal partnerships in which the partners were entitled to a share of the profits of the enterprise. The name has remained even though many of these...
in the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
Dobson, Mitchell & Allport (started by his father).
Tasmanian House of Assembly
Dobson's political career began on 12 August 1891, when he was elected to the Tasmanian House of AssemblyTasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
representing the electorate of Brighton
Brighton, Tasmania
Brighton is a suburb 27km north of Hobart, in Tasmania, Australia. It lies between Pontville and the outer Hobart suburb of Bridgewater on the Midland Highway. At the 2006 census, Brighton had a population of 3,145.-History:...
. He was quickly made Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania)
The role of Leader of the Opposition in Tasmania is a title held by the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He or she acts as the public face of the opposition, leading the government on the floor of parliament...
the next month, and became Premier of Tasmania on 17 August 1892 after the fall of Philip Fysh
Philip Fysh
Sir Philip Oakley Fysh, KCMG was an Australian politician, Premier of Tasmania and a member of the first federal ministry....
's government.
Dobson had a keen interest in education, and introduced compulsory education
Compulsory education
Compulsory education refers to a period of education that is required of all persons.-Antiquity to Medieval Era:Although Plato's The Republic is credited with having popularized the concept of compulsory education in Western intellectual thought, every parent in Judea since Moses's Covenant with...
legislation into the Tasmanian parliament. He also promoted Tasmania as a tourist destination and fruit-growing centre, attributes which it remains known for today. Economic factors required him to make difficult decisions, and when a proposed retrenchment program was rejected in the Parliament, Dobson obtained a dissolution
Dissolution of parliament
In parliamentary systems, a dissolution of parliament is the dispersal of a legislature at the call of an election.Usually there is a maximum length of a legislature, and a dissolution must happen before the maximum time...
from the Governor, and then resigned as Premier on 14 April 1894 when the situation remained unchanged after the election.
After retiring as Premier, Dobson remained in his seat until he retired on 9 March 1900.
Australian Senate
Dobson was a keen supporter of the Federation of AustraliaFederation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
, and when federation took place in 1901, Dobson was elected as a member of the first Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
for Tasmania. He remained in the Senate for over nine years, but retired when he lost the election on 30 June 1910.
Later life
After retiring from politics, Dobson turned his efforts to promoting Tasmanian tourism. He founded and was president of the Tasmanian Tourist Association from 1893, helped found the Tourist and Information Bureau and the Scenery Preservation Board in 1915, and was chairman of the National Park Board from 1917 to 1918.Dobson died on 10 October 1918 in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
.