1. Sir Thomas McIlwraith was for many years the dominant figure of colonial politics in Queensland.
22 Facts About Thomas McIlwraith
1. 2.
Thomas McIlwraith was Premier of Queensland from 1879 to 1883, again in 1888, and for a third time in 1893.
3.
In common with most politicians of his era, McIlwraith was an influential businessman, who combined his parliamentary career with a prosperous involvement in the pastoral industry.
4.
Thomas McIlwraith was born in Ayr, Scotland, in 1835, one of four sons of John McIlwraith, plumber and shipowner, and his wife Janet Hamilton nee Howat.
5.
Thomas McIlwraith invested in eight pastoral holdings in the Maranoa district in Queensland.
6.
Thomas McIlwraith retained close relations with his brother John, and on 6 June 1863 married Margaret Whannell, sister of John's wife.
7.
Thomas McIlwraith eventually moved to Queensland, but Margaret was reluctant to live in isolated Merivale station.
8.
Thomas McIlwraith found that she was drinking heavily, and sent her to Scotland where she died in 1877.
9.
In 1877 Thomas McIlwraith was a founding partner of the North Australian Pastoral Company.
10.
Thomas McIlwraith was elected to the Legislative Assembly in the seat of Maranoa in 1868.
11.
Thomas McIlwraith joined the ministry of Arthur Macalister in January 1874 becoming Secretary for Public Works and Mines.
12.
The government of John Douglas was defeated in 1879 after a series of severe droughts and Thomas McIlwraith became premier for the first time.
13.
Thomas McIlwraith quickly worked to ameliorate the colony's finances and with the assistance of a return of agricultural prosperity he turned the budget deficit into a surplus.
14.
Queensland at this stage was seeing increasing numbers of immigrants and Thomas McIlwraith oversaw the colony's economic development.
15.
The Thomas McIlwraith government introduced the divisional system of local government to the larger part of Queensland and assisted in establishing a postal service through the Torres Strait Islands.
16.
Thomas McIlwraith took the extraordinary step of attempting to annex New Guinea for Queensland; he employed Henry Chester to proclaim the Queen's sovereignty which occurred on 4 April 1883.
17.
Thomas McIlwraith lost office to his rival, Samuel Griffith, in November and retired from politics in 1886.
18.
Thomas McIlwraith returned to stand for Parliament in 1888, this time as member for North Brisbane.
19.
Thomas McIlwraith came into conflict with the colony's Governor, Sir Anthony Musgrave over the exercise of the royal pardon.
20.
In March 1893 Griffith stepped down to join the Supreme Court of Queensland and Thomas McIlwraith became Premier again.
21.
Thomas McIlwraith's health was still poor and in October he resigned in favour of Hugh Nelson, contenting himself with the cabinet position of Chief Secretary and secretary for railways until 29 March 1895.
22.
Thomas McIlwraith died in London on 17 July 1900 and was buried at Ayr.