John Douglas arrived in New South Wales in 1851. He took up Talgai, entered the New South Wales Parliament and Queensland Parliament in 1863. He was Post Master General in 1866 and 1868-1869, Secretary for Public Works in 1867, Agent General for Queensland in 1869-1871, Secretary for Public Lands in 1876-1877, Premier from 1877-1879, Special Commissioner in British New Guinea from 1886-1888, Government Resident of Thursday Island from 1888-1904. He married Mary Simpson in 1860 and Sarah Hickey in 1877. He had four sons. John Douglas was Premier of Queensland from 8 March 1877 to 21 January 1879.
From the description of OM89-03 John Douglas Papers, 1848-1904. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 755717868