John Watson (Queensland politician)

John Watson was a politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

John Watson
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Fortitude Valley
In office
12 May 1888 – 21 March 1896
Preceded bySamuel Brooks
Succeeded byFrank McDonnell
Personal details
Born
John Watson

July 1833
Aberdeen, Scotland
Died3 July 1912 (aged 78 or 79)
Bulimba, Queensland, Australia
Resting placeToowong Cemetery
NationalityScottish Australian
Political partyMinisterial
Spouse(s)Eliza Davis (m.1856 d.1880), Elizabeth Mary Frances Gillies (m.1881 d.1907), Christina Marie Guymer (m.1908)
OccupationShipwright

Early life

Watson was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in July, 1833, He served an apprenticeship there with Messrs. Hall Bros., ship builders. He arrived in Sydney in 1857, and came on to Brisbane in 1864 (five years after Queensland had been become a separate colony). He entered into business as a shipwright at Bulimba, but undertook the construction of many bridges. The Burdekin bridge, near Charters Towers, was one of his early contracts and he later built the Mackay embankment, the municipal wharves at Petrie Bight, the Musgrave wharf at South Brisbane, and 750 feet of the South Brisbane railway wharf.[2]

Public life

Watson became a member of the Booroodabin Divisional Board, and about 1888 was elected to the Bulimba Divisional Board, of which he was twice chairman. ln 1886, he contested the Fortitude Valley seat for the Queensland Legislative Assembly, but was defeated. He tried again in 1888 and was elected and was re-elected in 1893.[2]

Family life

Watson had three wives:

  • Eliza Davies (married 1856, died 1880)[3][4]
  • Elizabeth Mary Frances Gillies (married 14 August 1881, died 11 September 1907)[5][6][7][8]
  • Christina Marie Guymer (married 28 July 1908)[9][10]

Later life

Watson retired from business, but maintained his connection with the Balmoral Shire Council until shortly before his death. He was also chairman of that council for some time, and his practical knowledge gained in his former business often was of use to the members.[2]

Watson died on Wednesday 3 July 1912. He was survived by his third wife.[2] His funeral was held at St Stephen's Catholic Cathedral in Brisbane and he was buried in Toowong Cemetery.[11][12]

References
  1. "Part 2.15 – Alphabetical Register of Members of the Legislative Assembly 1860–2017 and the Legislative Council 1860–1922" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2015–2017: The 55th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. "MR. JOHN WATSON". The Week. Vol. LXXIV, no. [?]906. Queensland, Australia. 5 July 1912. p. 27. Retrieved 2 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Family Notices". The Telegraph. No. 2, 536. Queensland, Australia. 29 December 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 2 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Death registration: Eliza Watson". Family history research service. Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  5. "Marriage registration: John Watson and Elizabeth Mary Frances Gillies". Family history research service. Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  6. "Family Notices". The Telegraph. No. 2, 795. Queensland, Australia. 7 September 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 2 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Death registration: Elizabeth Mary Frances Watson". Family history research service. Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  8. "Family Notices". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LXIV, no. 15, 497. Queensland, Australia. 12 September 1907. p. 4. Retrieved 2 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Marriage registration: John Watson and Christina Maria Guymer". Family history research service. Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  10. "Family Notices". The Telegraph. No. 11, 143. Queensland, Australia. 4 August 1908. p. 6 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved 2 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Family Notices". The Brisbane Courier. No. 16, 997. Queensland, Australia. 4 July 1912. p. 6. Retrieved 2 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "PERSONAL". The Brisbane Courier. No. 16, 998. Queensland, Australia. 5 July 1912. p. 9. Retrieved 2 August 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
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