John Thomson (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
John Thomson was an Australia
n politician. Born near Taree, New South Wales
, he received a primary education before becoming a shopkeeper and grazier at Taree. He was an alderman on Taree Council
before becoming a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1901–04, representing Manning
for the Progressive Party
. In 1906, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives
as a Protectionist
, defeating Henry Lee
of the Anti-Socialist Party for the seat of Cowper
. In 1909 he became a member of the Commonwealth Liberal Party
, the result of a fusion between the Protectionists and the Anti-Socialists. In 1917 he became a member of the Liberal Party's successor, the Nationalist Party of Australia
. He was defeated in 1919 by future Prime Minister
Earle Page
, of the Farmers and Settlers Association, who joined the Country Party
when it was formed in 1920. Thomson retired from politics and died in 1934.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. Born near Taree, New South Wales
Taree, New South Wales
Taree is a city on the Mid North Coast, New South Wales, Australia. Taree and nearby Cundletown were settled in 1831 by William Wynter. Since then Taree has grown to a population of around 20,000 people and is the centre of a significant agricultural district. It is 16 km from the sea coast,...
, he received a primary education before becoming a shopkeeper and grazier at Taree. He was an alderman on Taree Council
City of Greater Taree
The City of Greater Taree is a Local Government Area on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, centered on Taree. It is on the Manning River, the Pacific Highway and the North Coast railway line.- History :...
before becoming a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1901–04, representing Manning
Electoral district of Manning
Manning was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1894 to 1904 and from 1988 to 1991 in the Manning River area.-Members for Manning:...
for the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (Australia)
The Progressive Party was an Australian political party, active in New South Wales state politics. The question of tariff policy which, had created and divided the Free Trade Party and Protectionist Party in New South Wales in the 1890s, became a federal issue at the time of federation...
. In 1906, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
as a Protectionist
Protectionist Party
The Protectionist Party was an Australian political party, formally organised from 1889 until 1909, with policies centred on protectionism. It argued that Australia needed protective tariffs to allow Australian industry to grow and provide employment. It had its greatest strength in Victoria and in...
, defeating Henry Lee
Henry Lee (Australian politician)
Henry William Lee was an Australian politician. Born in Gerringong, New South Wales, he was a dairy farmer on the Hunter Valley, and became a leader in the dairying industry. In 1903, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives for the Free Trade Party, emphatically defeating...
of the Anti-Socialist Party for the seat of Cowper
Division of Cowper
The Division of Cowper is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election and is named for Charles Cowper, an early Premier of New South Wales...
. In 1909 he became a member of the Commonwealth Liberal Party
Commonwealth Liberal Party
The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a political movement active in Australia from 1909 to 1916, shortly after federation....
, the result of a fusion between the Protectionists and the Anti-Socialists. In 1917 he became a member of the Liberal Party's successor, the Nationalist Party of Australia
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...
. He was defeated in 1919 by future Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Earle Page
Earle Page
Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page, GCMG, CH was the 11th Prime Minister of Australia, and is to date the second-longest serving federal parliamentarian in Australian history, with 41 years, 361 days in Parliament.-Early life:...
, of the Farmers and Settlers Association, who joined the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
when it was formed in 1920. Thomson retired from politics and died in 1934.