the royal navy, Mr. Douglas was intended for the sea, but entered the legal profession, and was articled to a firm of solicitors at Southampton, where, when admitted, he himself subsequently practised. When only twenty-three, however, Mr. Douglas emigrated to Tasmania, then and until 1857 known as Van Diemen's Land. Arriving in the colony early in 1839, he was admitted to the local bar, but having a few months later visited Victoria (then the Port Phillip district of N.S.W.), Mr. Douglas decided to embrace pastoral pursuits in the young settlement. Taking a number of sheep with him he settled near the Saltwater ranges; close to what is now the flourishing town of Kilmore, but ultimately abandoned squatting and returned to Tasmania. In 1842 Mr. Douglas re-commenced the practice of the law at Launceston, and quickly achieved a leading position. He also turned his attention to public affairs, becoming a prominent member of the Anti-Transportation Association, and in 1856 member for Launceston in the old Legislative Council. In that capacity he assisted materially in the formation of the new constitution of Tasmania, his efforts being mainly devoted to liberalising its basis. Mr. Douglas revisited England in 1857, and made a tour of the country in company with his friend, Sir Richard Dry. He was so much impressed with the advantages secured by what he saw of the extension of the railway system that on his return to Tasmania, where he was elected to the Assembly for Westbury in 1862, he vigorously championed the advent of the iron horse into his adopted country; being the foremost, in spite of strenuous opposition, in securing the formation of the first Tasmanian railway, from Launceston to Deloraine, the first sod of which was turned by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1868. In August 1884 Mr. Douglas somewhat reluctantly became Premier and Chief Secretary of the colony, and resigning his seat in the Lower House, was elected to the Legislative Council for South Esk. Mr. Douglas represented his colony at the Sydney Convention, and was responsible for the policy which led to the inclusion of Tasmania in the Federal Council of Australasia. The official representation of Tasmania in London having, after a good deal of irresolution, been decided on, Mr. Douglas resigned the Premiership in March 1880, and became the first Agent-General of the colony. At the London Colonial Conference of 1887 Mr. Douglas was associated with the present Judge Dodds in the representation of the colony. At the close of the year Mr. Douglas resigned his position in London and returned to Tasmania. In July 1800 he was elected a member of the Legislative Council for Launceston. He was one of the delegates of Tasmania to the Sydney Federation Convention in March 1891.
Douglas, Hon. John, C.M.G., son of Henry Alexander Douglas and Elizabeth (Dalziel) his wife, was born in London on March 6th, 1828, and after receiving his education at Rugby School and Durham University, he emigrated to New South Wales in 1851, and received the appointment of a goldfields' commissioner, a post he gave up in order to follow pastoral pursuits. He sat as member for Darling Downs, and afterwards for Camden, in the New South Wales Parliament; but in 1863 he settled in Queensland, and entered the Legislative Assembly for Port Curtis. Mr. Douglas joined the Macalister Ministry in Feb. 1866, and was Postmaster-General from March to July of that year. He was called to the Legislative Council in the same year; but when, some months after Mr. Macalister's return to power, he was appointed Treasurer, he re-entered the Assembly as member for the Eastern Downs, afterwards resigning to take the leadership in the Council. He resigned the treasurership in May 1867, and was Secretary for Public Works till the August following. In the Lilley Ministry Mr. Douglas was Postmaster-General from Dec. 1868 to Nov. 1869, when he resigned on accepting the post of Agent-General, which he held till 1871, when he returned to Queensland, and was elected in 1875 for Maryborough. In June of the following year he accepted office as Secretary for Public Lands in the Thorn Ministry, and became Premier upon the resignation of Mr. Thorn in March 1877. In the following year he exchanged the portfolio of Lands for the Colonial Secretaryship, and remained in power until Jan. 1879, when his Government was defeated, and he resigned. Subsequent to the assumption of a protectorate over a portion of New Guinea by the British
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