John Douglas (Queensland politician)
Encyclopedia
John Douglas CMG
(6 March 1828 – 23 July 1904) was an Anglo-Australian politician and Premier of Queensland.
Douglas was born in London
, the seventh son of Henry Alexander Douglas and his wife Elizabeth Dalzell, daughter of the Earl of Carnwarth. 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. He was then elected member for the Darling Downs
and afterwards for Camden
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
until resigning on 17 July 1861. Going to Queensland
in 1863 he was elected as member for Port Curtis in the Queensland Legislative Assembly
, and on 1 March 1866 became postmaster-general in the first Macalister
ministry. He transferred to the Queensland Legislative Council
, but 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. 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, and showed tact and ability in his dealings with the local inhabitants.
In 1889 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.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(6 March 1828 – 23 July 1904) was an Anglo-Australian politician and Premier of Queensland.
Douglas was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the seventh son of Henry Alexander Douglas and his wife Elizabeth Dalzell, daughter of the Earl of Carnwarth. 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
Marquess of Queensberry
Marquess of Queensberry is a title in the peerage of Scotland. The title has been held since its creation in 1682 by a member of the Douglas family...
. Douglas' parents died in 1837, he was educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
Rugby
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
1843-47 and Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
where he graduated B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1850.
Douglas arrived in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. 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. He was then elected member for the Darling Downs
Electoral district of Darling Downs (New South Wales)
Darling Downs was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from July 1859 to December 1859, representing the Darling Downs, prior to the establishment of Queensland. It elected two members simultaneously, with voters having two votes...
and afterwards for Camden
Electoral district of Camden
Camden is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales in Sydney's south-west. It is currently represented by Chris Patterson of the Liberal Party of Australia.-History:...
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
until resigning on 17 July 1861. Going to Queensland
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...
in 1863 he was elected as member for Port Curtis 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 on 1 March 1866 became postmaster-general in the first Macalister
Arthur Macalister
Arthur Macalister, CMG was three times Premier of Queensland, Australia.-Early life:Macalister was born in Glasgow, Scotland, son of John Macalister, a cabinet maker, and his wife Mary, née Scoullar. Macalister was educated in Glasgow and emigrated to Australia with his wife Elizabeth Wallace née...
ministry. He transferred to 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...
, but 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
Charles Lilley
Sir Charles Lilley was a Premier and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland. He had a significant influence on the form and spirit of state education in colonial Queensland which lasted well into the twentieth century.Lilley was born at Newcastle on Tyne, England, the son of Thomas...
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
Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is...
at the election held in 1875. He was secretary for public lands in the Thorn
George Thorn
George Henry Thorn was a Premier of Queensland, Australia.Thorn was born in Sydney, New South Wales, a son of George Thorn, one of the founders of the city of Ipswich and a member of the first Queensland legislative assembly. He was schooled at The King's School, Parramatta and the University of...
ministry from June 1876 until March 1877, when he became premier and was given the honour of C.M.G.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
His party was defeated at the election held in January 1879 and Douglas gave up politics. 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
Peter Scratchley
Sir Peter Henry Scratchley K.C.M.G. was special commissioner for Great Britain in New Guinea 1884-1885 and defence adviser for Australia....
in December 1885 Douglas acted as special commissioner for the protectorate of British New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
for nearly three years, and showed tact and ability in his dealings with the local inhabitants.
In 1889 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 to Mary, daughter of the Rev. J. Simpson, in 1861 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
- Edward Archibald Douglas, (1877–1947), was appointed to a similar position in March 1929
- Henry Alexander Cecil Douglas, (1879–1917), member of Queensland State Parliament
- Alexander Michael Douglas, (1926 - )
- Alexander Rodney DouglasAlex Douglas (politician)Dr Alexander Rodney Douglas is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal National Party member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly since 2009, representing the district of Gaven...
, the recent member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of GavenElectoral district of GavenThe district of Gaven is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland. It was created out of the former district of Nerang and the southern segment of Albert in the 2001 redistribution, and is based around the northern growth corridor of the Gold Coast...
, is the great grandson of John Douglas
- Alexander Rodney Douglas
- Alexander Michael Douglas, (1926 - )
- Hugh Maxwell Douglas, (1881–1918)