Anderson Dawson
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The Honourable Anderson Dawson |
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|---|---|
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| 14th Premier of Queensland | |
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In office 1 December 1899 – 7 December 1899 |
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| Preceded by | James Dickson |
| Succeeded by | Robert Philp |
| Constituency | Charters Towers |
| Minister for Defence | |
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In office 27 April 1904 – 18 August 1904 |
|
| Prime Minister | Chris Watson |
| Preceded by | Austin Chapman |
| Succeeded by | James McCay |
| Australian Senator for Queensland | |
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In office 30 March 1901 – 31 December 1906 |
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| Leader of the Opposition of Queensland | |
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In office 12 May 1899 – 1 December 1899 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Glassey |
| Succeeded by | Robert Philp |
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In office 7 December 1899 – 16 July 1900 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Philp |
| Succeeded by | Billy Browne |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Charters Towers |
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In office 13 May 1893 – 11 June 1901 Serving with John Dunsford |
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| Preceded by | Robert Sayers |
| Succeeded by | John Burrows |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
16 July 1863 Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Died | 20 July 1910 (aged 47) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Resting place | Toowong Cemetery |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse(s) | Caroline Ryan née Quin |
| Occupation | Union organiser, Journalist, Gold miner |
| Religion | Church of England |
Andrew Dawson (16 July 1863 – 20 July 1910), usually known as Anderson Dawson, was an Australian politician, the Premier of Queensland for one week (1–7 December) in 1899. This premiership was not only the first Australian Labor Party government; it was the first parliamentary socialist government anywhere in the world, and it attracted international newspaper coverage.
Dawson was born on 16 July 1863 at Rockhampton, Queensland, the son of Andrewson Dawson and his wife Jane (née Smith). When he was six his mother died and he was placed in Diamantina orphanage in Brisbane until he was nine, when an uncle took him to Gympie. He began work as a miner at Charters Towers, and later was elected first president of the Miners' Union. He took up journalism and for a time was editor of the local newspaper, The Charters Towers Eagle.
Dawson entered politics at the 1893 election, as one of the two Labor candidates for Charters Towers in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. He won the seat, and retained it at the 1896 and 1899 elections. When the government of James Dickson resigned on 1 December 1899, Dawson formed a ministry. Although it was defeated as soon as the Legislative Assembly next met, it nevertheless became the first socialist or Labour Party government in the world.
At the first Federal election for the Senate in 1901, Dawson was returned at the head of the Queensland Labor ticket. While in federal parliament, he was regarded as a good speaker, but struggled with persistent ill health associated with chronic lung trouble from his time as a miner, which worsened after he relocated his family from Queensland to the colder climate of Melbourne. He also struggled with alcoholism, and was absent from parliament for periods, which frustrated his colleagues.
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