Dickson, James Robert Sir, 1832-1901.

Premier from 1 October 1898 to 1 December 1899

Sir Dickson is a significant figure in the early history of Queensland, in business and especially politics. As Premier of Queensland, Dickson, with Sir Samuel Griffith, was the leading proponent of the Federal cause in that colony. He was appointed Minister of Defence in the first Commonwealth Ministry.

James Robert Dickson was born 30 November 1832 at Plymouth, Devon, England, the son of James Dickson and Mary Maria nee Palmer. He was educated at Glasgow High School and emigrated to Victoria in 1854. He married his first wife, Annie Ely (1838-1880) on 8 November 1855 at Collingwood, Victoria. Dickson moved to Queensland in 1862, and established auction and estate agent business James R Dickson and Company in the early 1870s. Dickson also built Toorak House.

In 1873 he was elected to the seat of Enoggera in the Legislative Assembly. He was Secretary of Public Works and Mines from May to June 1876, Colonial treasurer from June 1876 to January 1879, and again from December 1883 to August 1887. Dickson resigned from the public service in August 1887 in protest against a land tax, and was re-elected to the seat in September 1887. In 1889 he retired from his auctioneering business, and went travelling in Europe. On his return he won the Bulimba seat in April 1892, but did not receive ministerial office until February 1897 when he became Secretary for Railways, Post-master General in March 1897, and Home secretary in March 1898.

Dickson was acting Premier of Queensland from October 1898, following the death of Premier Thomas Joseph Byrne, but was followed by Robert Philp who was elected Premier in 1899. Dickson returned as chief secretary under the Philp government. Dickson was appointed KCMG January 1901. He was the minister of Defence in the first Federal Administration, a position he held for only one week. He was taken ill during the Commonealth inaugural ceremonies in Sydney, and died on 10 January 1901. He was buried in the Nundah cemetery. He was survived by his second wife, Mary McKinlay (1841-1902), whom he married 5 January 1882 in Carcoar, NSW.

James Robert Dickson was born 30 November 1832 at Plymouth, Devon, England, the son of James Dickson and Mary Maria nee Palmer. He was educated at Glasgow High School. He emigrated to Victoria in 1854. He married his first wife, Annie Ely (1838-1880) on 8 November 1855 at Collingwood Victoria. He moved to Queensland in 1862, established his own business, James R Dickson and Company, as an auctioneer and estate agent in the early 1870s, and built Toorak House. In 1873 he was elected to the seat of Enoggera in the Legislative Assembly. He was Secretary Public Works and Mines May to June 1876, Colonial Treasurer June 1876 to January 1879, and again from December 1883 to August 1887. He resigned from Parliament in August 1887 in protest against a land tax, and was re-elected to the seat in September 1887. In 1889 he retired from his auctioneering business, and went travelling in Europe.

On his return he won the Bulimba seat in April 1892, but did not receive ministerial office until February 1897 when he became Secretary for Railways, then Post-Master General in March 1897, and Home Secretary in March 1898. He was Premier from October 1898, following the death of Premier Thomas Joseph Byrne, until Robert Philp was elected Premier in 1899. Dickson returned as Chief Secretary under the Philp government. Dickson was appointed KCMG January 1901. He was the Minister of Defence in the first Federal Administration, a position he held for only one week. He was taken ill during the Commonwealth inaugural ceremonies in Sydney, and died on 10 January 1901. He was buried in the Nundah cemetery. He was survived by his second wife, Mary McKinlay (1841-1902), whom he married 5 January 1882 in Carcoar, NSW.

James Robert Dickson was born 30 November 1832 at Plymouth, Devon, England, the son of James Dickson and Mary Maria nee Palmer. He was educated at Glasgow High School. He emigrated to Victoria in 1854. He married his first wife, Annie Ely (1838-1880) on 8 November 1855 at Collingwood, Victoria. He moved to Queensland in 1862, established his own business, James R Dickson and Company, as an auctioneer and estate agent in the early 1870s, and built Toorak House.

In 1873 he was elected to the seat of Enoggera in the Legislative Assembly. He was secretary public works and mines May to June 1876, colonial treasurer June 1876 to January 1879, and again from December 1883 to August 1887. He resigned in August 1887 in protest against a land tax, and was re-elected to the seat in September 1887. In 1889 he retired from his auctioneering business, and went travelling in Europe. On his return he won the Bulimba seat in April 1892, but did not receive ministerial office until February 1897 when he became secretary for railways, then post-master general in March 1897, and home secretary in March 1898.

He was Premier from October 1898, following the death of Premier Thomas Joseph Byrne, until Robert Philp was elected Premier in 1899. Dickson returned as chief secretary under the Philp government. Dickson was appointed KCMG January 1901. He was the minister of defence in the first Federal Administration, a position he held for only one week. He was taken ill during the Commonealth inaugural ceremonies in Sydney, and died on 10 January 1901. He was buried in the Nundah cemetery. He was survived by his second wife, Mary McKinlay (1841-1902), whom he married 5 January 1882 in Carcoar, NSW.

James Robert Dickson was born 30 November 1832 at Plymouth, Devon, England, the son of James Dickson and Mary Maria nee Palmer. He was educated at Glasgow High School and emigrated to Victoria in 1854. He married his first wife, Annie Ely (1838-1880) on 8 November 1855 at Collingwood, Victoria. Dickson moved to Queensland in 1862, and established auction and estate agent business James R Dickson and Company in the early 1870s. Dickson also built Toorak House.

In 1873 he was elected to the seat of Enoggera in the Legislative Assembly. He was Secretary of Public Works and Mines from May to June 1876, Colonial treasurer from June 1876 to January 1879, and again from December 1883 to August 1887. Dickson resigned from the public service in August 1887 in protest against a land tax, and was re-elected to the seat in September 1887. In 1889 he retired from his auctioneering business, and went travelling in Europe.

On his return he won the Bulimba seat in April 1892, but did not receive ministerial office until February 1897 when he became Secretary for Railways, Post-master General in March 1897, and Home secretary in March 1898. Dickson was acting Premier of Queensland from October 1898, following the death of Premier Thomas Joseph Byrne, but was followed by Robert Philp who was elected Premier in 1899. Dickson returned as chief secretary under the Philp government. Dickson was appointed KCMG January 1901. He was the minister of Defence in the first Federal Administration, a position he held for only one week.

He was taken ill during the Commonealth inaugural ceremonies in Sydney, and died on 10 January 1901. He was buried in the Nundah cemetery. He was survived by his second wife, Mary McKinlay (1841-1902), whom he married 5 January 1882 in Carcoar, NSW.