John Evans (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir John William Evans, CMG
(1 December 1855 – 2 October 1943) was an Australia
n politician, a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
and Premier of Tasmania from 11 July 1904 to 19 June 1909.
, England
, but migrated with his family to Battery Point, Tasmania
when he was four years old. After education in Hobart
, Evans embarked on a year-long voyage through Asia
n ports with his parents. His father, a merchant seaman, arranged an apprenticeship for him on his part-owned barque
, Helen, trading to China
and Japan
.
in the electorate of Kingborough on the 20 January 1897. He did not have a political party, at this time, but is described as Anti-Socialist. Evans became Premier on 12 July 1904. Holding office until 19 June 1909. In 1909 his seat of Kingborough was abolished and replaced with the Division of Franklin
. He won the seat back in 1909 and continued to serve in parliament until 1937 as Commonwealth Liberal
and Nationalist. His time in parliament 1897-1937, 40 years, makes him the longest-serving member in Tasmania
.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(1 December 1855 – 2 October 1943) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician, a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
and Premier of Tasmania from 11 July 1904 to 19 June 1909.
Early life and nautical career
Evans was born in 1855 in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, but migrated with his family to Battery Point, Tasmania
Battery Point, Tasmania
Battery Point is a suburb of the city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is immediately south of the Central business district. It is in the local government area of City of Hobart....
when he was four years old. After education in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Evans embarked on a year-long voyage through Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n ports with his parents. His father, a merchant seaman, arranged an apprenticeship for him on his part-owned barque
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
, Helen, trading to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Political career
John was first elected to the Tasmanian House of AssemblyTasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
in the electorate of Kingborough on the 20 January 1897. He did not have a political party, at this time, but is described as Anti-Socialist. Evans became Premier on 12 July 1904. Holding office until 19 June 1909. In 1909 his seat of Kingborough was abolished and replaced with the Division of Franklin
Division of Franklin (state)
The Electoral Division of Franklin is one of the five electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir John Franklin, the arctic explorer who was Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land 1837-43...
. He won the seat back in 1909 and continued to serve in parliament until 1937 as Commonwealth Liberal
Commonwealth Liberal Party
The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a political movement active in Australia from 1909 to 1916, shortly after federation....
and Nationalist. His time in parliament 1897-1937, 40 years, makes him the longest-serving member in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
.