John Watchorn

John Watchorn (1826 – 4 March 1905) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council from 1882 until his death in 1905 and was Mayor of Hobart in 1890 and from 1894 to 1896.[1][2]

Watchorn was born in Nottingham, England in 1826.[1] He migrated to Tasmania with his family in 1837.[3] He was a publican and wine merchant outside of politics. He was a City of Hobart councillor from 1876 to 1896 and mayor in 1890 and from 1894 to 1896.[2] He also served as a magistrate and as a member of the Metropolitan Drainage Board.[4]

Watchorn was declared elected unopposed to the Legislative Council in June 1881, filling a vacancy in the Huon electorate caused by the invalidation of Joseph Solomon's 1880 election.[5] However, his election was challenged by petition, and in August 1881 the Elections and Qualifications Committee of the Legislative Council unseated Watchorn and declared William Fisher, Solomon's 1880 challenger, to have been elected.[6][7] Fisher died on 3 April 1882, and Watchorn won the resulting May 1882 by-election comfortably.[8] He was re-elected numerous times and served in the Legislative Council until his death in 1905.[1]

He died in office in March 1905 and was buried at Cornelian Bay Cemetery.[9]

Watchorn married Dorcas Anne Blakey (née Collins) on 15 August 1854. She predeceased him, and they had ten children.[3][4]

References
  1. "John Watchorn". Members of the Parliament of Tasmania. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  2. "Former Aldermen and Commissioners". City of Hobart. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  3. "JOHN WATCHORN AND FAMILY". Tasmanian Archives Online. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  4. "OBITUARY". The Mercury. Vol. LXXXIII, no. 10, 913. Tasmania. 4 March 1905. p. 5. Retrieved 23 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "TASMANIAN TELEGRAMS". The Mercury. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 6248. Tasmania. 21 June 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 23 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "TASMANIA". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. XXXII, no. 1100. 6 August 1881. p. 255. Retrieved 23 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "THE MERCURY". The Mercury. Vol. XXXIX, no. 6286. Tasmania. 4 August 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 23 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "HUON ELECTION". The Tasmanian. Vol. XI, no. 18. Tasmania. 6 May 1882. p. 485. Retrieved 23 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "DEATH OF HON J. WATCHORN". The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times. Tasmania. 6 March 1905. p. 2. Retrieved 22 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
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