John Douglas (March 6, 1828 - July 23, 1904) was a British Australian politican and Premier of Queensland. March 6 is the 65th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (66th in Leap years). ... 1828 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... July 23 is the 204th day (205th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 161 days remaining. ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... List of Premiers of Queensland Before the 1890s there was no formal party system in Queensland. ...

Douglas was born in London, the son of Henry Alexander Douglas and Elizabeth, his wife. His father was the third son of Sir William Douglas (c1730-1783), fourth Baronet Douglas of Kelhead, who was a brother of the sixth and seventh Marquess of Queensberry. Douglas was educated at Harrow and Durham University where he graduated B.A. in 1850. It is usually stated that he was educated at Rugby but his name does not appear in the school list of his period. Marquess of Queensberry (often spelled, archaically, as the Marquis of Queensbury) is a title in the peerage of Scotland. ...

He arrived in New South Wales in 1851 and was appointed a gold-fields commissioner, but gave this up to enter on a pastoral life. He was then elected member for the Darling Downs and afterwards for Camden in the New South Wales Legislative Council. Going to Queensland in 1863 he was elected as member for Port Curtis in the legislative assembly, and on 1 March 1866 became postmaster-general in the first Macalister ministry. He transferred to the legislative council, but was elected to the legislative assembly again as member for Eastern Downs. He took the portfolio of colonial treasurer in the second Macalister ministry in December 1866, but in May 1867 changed this position for that of secretary for public works. He was postmaster-general in the Charles Lilley ministry from December 1868 until November 1869, when he resigned to become agent-general for Queensland at London. Emblems: Floral - Waratah (Telopea Speciosissima); Bird - Kookaburra (Dacelo Gigas); Animal - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus Anatinus); Fish - Blue Groper (Achoerodus Viridis) Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Const. ... The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. ... Emblems: Faunal - Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus); Floral - Cooktown orchid (Dendrobium bigibbum); Bird - Brolga (Grus rubicunda); Aquatic - Barrier Reef Anemonefish (Amphiprion akindynos); Gem - Sapphire; Colour - Maroon Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Slogan or Nickname: Sunshine State, Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Const. ... Arthur Macalister (1818-1883) was twice Premier of Queensland, Australia. ... The Legislative Assembly. ... Sir Charles Lilley was a former premier (1868-70) and chief justice of Queensland (1879_93). ...

In 1871 he returned to Queensland and was returned for Maryborough at the election held in 1875. He was secretary for public lands in the Thorn ministry from June 1876 until March 1877, when he became premier and was given the honour of C.M.G. His party was defeated at the election held in January 1879 and Douglas gave up politics. He was for some time on the literary staff of the Brisbane Courier, and subsequently was appointed government resident and magistrate at Thursday Island. After the death of Sir Peter Scratchley in December 1885 he acted as special commissioner for the protectorate of southern New Guinea for nearly three years, and showed tact and ability in his dealings with the native inhabitants. Maryborough is a city and Local Government Area located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately 300 kilometres north of the state capital, Brisbane. ... George Thorn, jnr, (b. ... Thursday Island is the administrative and commercial centre of the Torres Strait Islands. ...

In 1889 he returned to his old position on Thursday Island. He visited England in 1902 and on his return continued his work until his death at Thursday Island. Douglas was married twice, first to Mary, daughter of the Rev. J. Simpson, in 1861 and for the second time in 1877 to Sarah, daughter of Michael Hickey. He was survived by four sons of the second marriage, of whom two have had distinguished careers. The youngest, Robert Johnstone Douglas, (1883-1972), was appointed a judge of the supreme court of Queensland in 1923 and the eldest, Edward Archibald Douglas, (1877-1947), was appointed to a similar position in March 1929.

Reference

• Serle, Percival (1949). “Douglas, John”, Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.