17 Facts About Hector Rason

Sir Cornthwaite Hector William James Rason, better known as Hector Rason, was the seventh Premier of Western Australia.

Hector Rason was the son of Cornthwaite Hector Rason, a Royal Navy surgeon who was the medical officer at York, Western Australia, in 1866 and 1867.

Hector Rason was educated at private schools in Eastbourne, Brighton and Reading, and worked as a railway clerk.

In October 1880, Hector Rason emigrated to Perth, Australia, but returned to England after eighteen months.

Hector Rason then went into partnership with a Mr Webster, and attempted to benefit from the gold rushes in the Kimberley and Goldfields regions.

Hector Rason spent some time in Coolgardie trading as a mining engineer and auctioneer.

Hector Rason retired from business in 1891, but was affected by the firm's bankruptcy in 1892.

From 1897 to 1898, Hector Rason was Mayor of the Municipality of Guildford.

In January 1889, Hector Rason was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council for the Swan district.

Hector Rason was a strong supporter of responsible government, and left the Council in October 1890 after responsible government had been established.

The seat of South Murchison was abolished in 1901, and Hector Rason won the Legislative Assembly seat of Guildford in the general elections of April 1901.

When George Leake formed his second government in December 1901, Hector Rason was appointed minister for works, holding responsibility for administration of the Coolgardie Water Scheme.

Hector Rason became Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Justice on 25 August 1905, after Henry Daglish's Labor government was defeated.

Hector Rason did not provide firm leadership as premier, and was dogged by family and financial worries.

Hector Rason held the post until 1911, after which he pursued a business career in Britain.

Hector Rason became Chairman of the Bode Rubber Estates Ltd.

Hector Rason died at Beckenham, Kent, in England on 15 March 1927.