Lewis Thomas (politician)
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The Hon Lewis Thomas |
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| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Bundamba |
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In office 13 May 1893 – 18 March 1899 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas Glassey |
| Succeeded by | James Cribb |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Council | |
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In office 5 July 1902 – 16 February 1913 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lewis Thomas 20 November 1832 Llanfihangel Genau'r Glyn, Cardiganshire, Wales |
| Died | 16 February 1913 (aged 80) Ipswich, Queensland, Australia |
| Resting place | Ipswich General Cemetery |
| Nationality | Welsh Australian |
| Political party | Ministerial |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Morris(m.1859 d.1930) |
| Occupation | Gold miner, Colliery owner |
| Religion | Congregationalist |
Lewis Thomas (20 November 1832 – 16 February 1913) was a Colliery owner and a member of both the member of both the Queensland Legislative Council and the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
Thomas was born in November 1848 at Llanfihangel Genau'r Glyn, Cardiganshire, Wales to Thomas Thomas, carrier, and his wife Mary (née Hughes). At age nine he was working at a woolen factory and at fifteen was employed in the lead-mines of Esgair and Bwlch Gwyn. He moved on to working in the coal and iron mines of South Wales and in 1859 he set off to Australia.
Landing in Victoria, he worked as a gold miner but was unsuccessful and relocated to Queensland some two years later where he turned to coal mining in the West Moreton district. This time his venture was such a success that he opened up many of the coalfields in the area and with the building of railways across Queensland the demand for coal become even greater, earning him a vast fortune and eventually became known as the 'Coal King'. In 1890, Thomas retired from mining and handed over the business to his employees, who formed the Aberdare Co-Operative Coal Co. Ltd.
Thomas, representing the Ministerial Party, was a candidate for the seat of Bundamba at the 1893 colonial election. He easily defeated the sitting member, Thomas Glassey, and remained as the member until he decided not to stand in the 1899 election.
Three years later, Thomas was appointed by premier Robert Philp to the Queensland Legislative Council, remaining there until his death in 1913.
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