John Douglas (Queensland politician)
John Douglas (
March 6 1828 -
July 23 1904) was a British Australian politican and
Premier of Queensland.
Douglas was born in London, the son of Henry Alexander Douglas and Elizabeth, his wife. His father was the third son of Sir William Douglas (c1730-1783), fourth Baronet Douglas of Kelhead, who was a brother of the sixth and seventh
Marquess of Queensberry. Douglas was educated at
Harrow and Durham University where he graduated B.A. in 1850. It is usually stated that he was educated at Rugby but his name does not appear in the school list of his period.
He arrived in
New South Wales 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 Council. Going to
Queensland in 1863 he was elected as member for Port Curtis in the legislative assembly, and on 1 March 1866 became postmaster-general in the first
Macalister ministry. He transferred to the 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 until November 1869, when he resigned to become agent-general for Queensland at London.
In 1871 he returned to Queensland and 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 subsequently was appointed government resident and magistrate at
Thursday Island. After the death of Sir
Peter Scratchley in December 1885 he acted as special commissioner for the protectorate of southern
New Guinea for nearly three years, and showed tact and ability in his dealings with the native inhabitants.
In 1889 he 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. 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. He was survived by four sons of the second marriage, of whom two have had distinguished careers. The youngest,
Robert Johnstone Douglas, (1883-1972), was appointed a judge of the supreme court of Queensland in 1923 and the eldest,
Edward Archibald Douglas, (1877-1947), was appointed to a similar position in March 1929.
Alex Douglas, the current member of the
Legislative Assembly seat of
Gaven is the grandson of John Douglas.
