John Hamilton (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
John Hamilton also known as John Dinwoodie, was an Australian politician.
He was born in Melbourne
to saddler John Dinwoodie and Janet, née McFarlane. He was sent to a private tutor in England
before travelling to Rockhampton
with the intention to become a pastoralist. He instead became a gold miner at the Calliope
gold rush and moved to Gympie
in 1867, where he became a magistrate under the name John Hamilton. He also practiced as a doctor despite his lack of qualifications, and in 1877 was a surgeon to the hospital at the Hodgkinson gold rush, where he attracted publicity with a public dispute with the local warden and a successful defamation case after allegations that he seduced the daughter of a friend of the local editor. In 1878 he was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Gympie
and supported Thomas McIlwraith
's conservative group. In 1883 he changed seat to Cook
, winning the election amid allegations of vote rigging.
Hamilton supported the North Queensland
separatist movement and continued to support McIlwraith's conservative successors, becoming a significant but occasionally rebellious backbencher, successfully opposing the attempted reduction of parliamentary salaries in 1893 and defeating the nomination of Alfred Cowley
as Speaker
in 1899. In 1903 he lost his post as government whip and in 1904 lost his seat to a Labour
candidate. He retired, and died in 1916 at Brisbane Hospital
, having never married.
He was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to saddler John Dinwoodie and Janet, née McFarlane. He was sent to a private tutor in 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...
before travelling to Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
with the intention to become a pastoralist. He instead became a gold miner at the Calliope
Calliope, Queensland
Calliope is a town located in Central Queensland, Australia. It is located near the junction of the Bruce Highway and the Dawson Highway, 20 kilometres SSW of the port city of Gladstone...
gold rush and moved to Gympie
Gympie, Queensland
Gympie is a regional town in south eastern Queensland, Australia, about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River. Gympie is the administrative centre for the Gympie Region area...
in 1867, where he became a magistrate under the name John Hamilton. He also practiced as a doctor despite his lack of qualifications, and in 1877 was a surgeon to the hospital at the Hodgkinson gold rush, where he attracted publicity with a public dispute with the local warden and a successful defamation case after allegations that he seduced the daughter of a friend of the local editor. In 1878 he was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
for Gympie
Electoral district of Gympie
The district of Gympie is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland The electorate is centred on the city of Gympie and stretches north to Rainbow Beach and as far south to Pomona....
and supported Thomas McIlwraith
Thomas McIlwraith
Sir Thomas McIlwraith KCMG was for many years the dominant figure of colonial politics in Queensland. He was Premier of Queensland from 1877 to 1883, again in 1888, and for a third time in 1893...
's conservative group. In 1883 he changed seat to Cook
Electoral district of Cook
The electoral division of Cook is an electoral district in Queensland, Australia.Cook covers the vast Cape York Peninsula north of Cairns, including the resort town of Port Douglas and the Torres Strait Islands...
, winning the election amid allegations of vote rigging.
Hamilton supported the North Queensland
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...
separatist movement and continued to support McIlwraith's conservative successors, becoming a significant but occasionally rebellious backbencher, successfully opposing the attempted reduction of parliamentary salaries in 1893 and defeating the nomination of Alfred Cowley
Alfred Cowley
Sir Alfred Sandlings Cowley was an Australian politician. He was the member for Herbert in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1888 to 1907. He served as Speaker from 1893 to 1899 and from 1903 to 1907....
as Speaker
Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the Queensland Legislative Assembly is a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, elected by the whole Parliament to preside over sittings of the Assembly and to maintain orderly proceedings. The Speaker is supported in his role by officers of the Parliamentary Service,...
in 1899. In 1903 he lost his post as government whip and in 1904 lost his seat to a Labour
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...
candidate. He retired, and died in 1916 at Brisbane Hospital
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
The Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital is a hospital located in the suburb of Herston in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.The hospital was formerly known as the Brisbane General Hospital.The hospital currently has a total of 948 beds...
, having never married.