John Stokell Dodds
Encyclopedia
Sir John Stokell Dodds KCMG
, (1848 – 23 June 1914) was an Australian politician
and Chief Justice of Tasmania
.
, England
, the son of William Dodds and his wife Annie, née Shute. The family moved to Hobart
, Tasmania
, arriving in 1853. His father died soon afterwards and Dodds was educated in Hobart. At 16 years old he began to study law, was admitted to the bar in 1872, and in a few years had a large practice. He took an active part in sport and was a good oarsman and cricket
er.
for East Hobart, and was given a seat in the William L. Crowther
ministry as attorney-general in December 1878. When W. R. Giblin
formed his coalition ministry in October 1879 Dodds held the same position until December 1881, when he exchanged it for that of colonial treasurer.
Giblin retired from politics in August 1884 and Dodds became attorney-general under Adye Douglas
until March 1886, when Douglas went to London as Agent-general. Douglas recommended that Sir James W. Agnew should be asked to form a ministry, but he could not do so because Dodds, who was the leader of the assembly, felt that he should have been sent for. Dodds then succeeded in forming a ministry, and having established the principle, stood aside and Agnew became premier. It was, however, felt by many that Dodds, who took the portfolio of attorney-general, was the real leader of the government. In 1887 he was appointed one of the representatives of Tasmania at the colonial conference held at London, and while on the voyage was offered and accepted the position of puisne judge of the supreme court. He held this position for 12 years and in 1898 was appointed chief justice. Five years later he became lieutenant-governor and administered the government on several occasions.
Dodds was in office for practically the whole of his nine years in parliament and did some excellent work, succeeding in obtaining reductions in mail subsidies, and reducing the rates for postages and telegrams. Dodds was also responsible for the establishment of post office savings banks. He was regarded as a very capable judge. As chief justice and lieutenant-governor his duties were always admirably discharged, and as chancellor of the university
, president of the Art and other societies, he did much to foster the cultural life of Hobart.
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....
, (1848 – 23 June 1914) was an Australian politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and Chief Justice of Tasmania
Chief Justice of Tasmania
The Chief Justice of Tasmania is the senior judge of the Supreme Court of Tasmania and the highest ranking judicial officer in the Australian state of Tasmania. The Chief Justice is both the judicial head of the Supreme Court as well as the administrative head...
.
Early life
Dodds was born in DurhamDurham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of William Dodds and his wife Annie, née Shute. The family moved to 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...
, 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...
, arriving in 1853. His father died soon afterwards and Dodds was educated in Hobart. At 16 years old he began to study law, was admitted to the bar in 1872, and in a few years had a large practice. He took an active part in sport and was a good oarsman and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er.
Career
In 1878 Dodds was asked to stand for parliament, 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...
for East Hobart, and was given a seat in the William L. Crowther
William Crowther (Australian politician)
William Lodewyk Crowther FRCS was an Australian politician, who was Premier of Tasmania 20 December 1878 to 29 October 1879.-Early life:...
ministry as attorney-general in December 1878. When W. R. 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:...
formed his coalition ministry in October 1879 Dodds held the same position until December 1881, when he exchanged it for that of colonial treasurer.
Giblin retired from politics in August 1884 and Dodds became attorney-general under Adye Douglas
Adye Douglas
Sir Adye Douglas was an Australian lawyer and politician, and first class cricket player, who played one match for Tasmania. He was Premier of Tasmania from 15 August 1884 to 8 March 1886....
until March 1886, when Douglas went to London as Agent-general. Douglas recommended that Sir James W. Agnew should be asked to form a ministry, but he could not do so because Dodds, who was the leader of the assembly, felt that he should have been sent for. Dodds then succeeded in forming a ministry, and having established the principle, stood aside and Agnew became premier. It was, however, felt by many that Dodds, who took the portfolio of attorney-general, was the real leader of the government. In 1887 he was appointed one of the representatives of Tasmania at the colonial conference held at London, and while on the voyage was offered and accepted the position of puisne judge of the supreme court. He held this position for 12 years and in 1898 was appointed chief justice. Five years later he became lieutenant-governor and administered the government on several occasions.
Legacy
Dodds died in his home on 23 June 1914. He married Minna Augusta, daughter of the Rev. James Norman, who predeceased him. He was survived by two sons. He was knighted in 1900 and created K.C.M.G. in 1901.Dodds was in office for practically the whole of his nine years in parliament and did some excellent work, succeeding in obtaining reductions in mail subsidies, and reducing the rates for postages and telegrams. Dodds was also responsible for the establishment of post office savings banks. He was regarded as a very capable judge. As chief justice and lieutenant-governor his duties were always admirably discharged, and as chancellor of the university
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
, president of the Art and other societies, he did much to foster the cultural life of Hobart.