The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Paterson, Hon. William
Paterson, Hon. William, M.L.A., was born on May 10th, 1830, at Hobart, but emigrated to Victoria, and was a councillor of the city of Melbourne prior to August 1864, when he went to Queensland, and commenced business at Rockhampton, where he acquired a large interest in the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company. Mr. Patterson, who has been Mayor of Rockhampton, succeeded Mr. Archer in the representation of Blackall in 1886, was elected for Rockhampton in 1888, and was a minister without portfolio in the McIlwraith Ministry from June to Nov. 1888. On the reconstitution of the Ministry he was Colonial Treasurer under Mr. Morehead from Nov. 1888 to Nov. 1889, when he resigned the Treasurership. He was minister without portfolio till the retirement of the Morehead Government in August 1890.