John Shannon (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
John Wallace Shannon was an Australia
n politician. Born in Angaston
, South Australia
, where he was educated, he became a farmer on the Yorke Peninsula
and an auctioneer. He served on Maitland Council
, of which he was mayor. In 1896, he was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly
for Yorke Peninsula, transferring to Wallaroo in 1902. He left the Assembly in 1905. In 1912, he was appointed to the Australian Senate
as a Liberal
Senator for South Australia, filling the casual vacancy caused by the death of Labor
Senator William Russell
. This was the first time a state government had successfully replaced a Senator with a Senator of a different party, after Labor's failed attempt in 1907 to appoint James O'Loghlin
to succeed Joseph Vardon
. Defeated in 1913, he was elected in 1914 with over 95% of the vote due to the death of Labor Senator Gregor McGregor
, which left the Labor Party with only five nominees. They directed the sixth vote to Shannon, resulting in an easy return to the Senate. He joined the Nationalist Party
when it formed in 1917, and retired from the Senate in 1919. Shannon died in 1926.
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. Born in Angaston
Angaston, South Australia
Angaston is a town in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, 77 km north east of Adelaide. Its elevation is 347 m, one of the highest points in the valley, and has an average rainfall of 561 mm...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, where he was educated, he became a farmer on the Yorke Peninsula
Yorke Peninsula
The Yorke Peninsula is a peninsula located north-west and west of Adelaide in South Australia, Australia, between Spencer Gulf on the west and Gulf St Vincent on the east. It has geographic coordinates of...
and an auctioneer. He served on Maitland Council
Maitland, South Australia
Maitland is a town in South Australia located 168 km west of Adelaide by road, 164 km south of Port Pirie and 46 km north of Minlaton known as the "heart of Yorke Peninsula" due to being near the center of the region...
, of which he was mayor. In 1896, he was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
for Yorke Peninsula, transferring to Wallaroo in 1902. He left the Assembly in 1905. In 1912, he was appointed to 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,...
as a Liberal
Commonwealth Liberal Party
The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a political movement active in Australia from 1909 to 1916, shortly after federation....
Senator for South Australia, filling the casual vacancy caused by the death of Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Senator William Russell
William Russell (Australian politician)
William Russell was a Scottish-born Australian politician. Born in Lanarkshire, he was educated in Scotland before becoming a farm worker. Migrating to Australia in 1866, he became a solicitor in 1873 and farmed in South Australia. He served on the Caltowie and Carrieton district councils, and...
. This was the first time a state government had successfully replaced a Senator with a Senator of a different party, after Labor's failed attempt in 1907 to appoint James O'Loghlin
James O'Loghlin (Australian politician)
James Vincent O'Loghlin was an Australian politician. Born in Gumeracha, South Australia, he was educated at the Classical and Commercial Academy in Adelaide before becoming a farmer and wheat buyer. Later a journalist and owner of country newspapers, he was active in Irish nationalist organisations...
to succeed Joseph Vardon
Joseph Vardon
Joseph Vardon was an Australian politician. Born in Adelaide, South Australia, he received a primary education before becoming a farm worker and apprentice printer, running his own printing business by 1871. He sat on Hindmarsh, Unley, and Adelaide City councils, and was President of the South...
. Defeated in 1913, he was elected in 1914 with over 95% of the vote due to the death of Labor Senator Gregor McGregor
Gregor McGregor
The Hon. Gregor McGregor was an influential Australian politician and trade union leader of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century....
, which left the Labor Party with only five nominees. They directed the sixth vote to Shannon, resulting in an easy return to the Senate. He joined the Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...
when it formed in 1917, and retired from the Senate in 1919. Shannon died in 1926.