Arthur Hawthorn

Not to be confused with Arthur Hawthorne.

Arthur George Clarence Hawthorn (31 October 1859 – 6 May 1934) was a solicitor, and member of both the Queensland Legislative Council and Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[1]

The Honourable Arthur Hawthorn
22nd Treasurer of Queensland
In office 29 October 1908 – 7 February 1911
Preceded by	Peter Airey
Succeeded by	Walter Barnes
Constituency	Enoggera
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Enoggera
In office 11 March 1902 – 7 February 1911
Preceded by	Matthew Reid
Succeeded by	Richard Trout
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
In office 11 February 1911 – 23 March 1912
In office 1 July 1912 – 23 March 1922
Personal details
Born	Arthur George Clarence Hawthorn (1859-10-31)31 October 1859 Hobart Town, Tasmania, Australia
Died	6 May 1934(1934-05-06) (aged 74) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Toowong Cemetery
Political party	Ministerial
Spouse	Mary Stewart (m.1894 d.1949)
Occupation	Solicitor

Early life

Hawthorn was born in October 1859 at Hobart Town, Tasmania, to George Hawthorn, shipmaster, and his wife Isabella Marie Louise (née Steele). Educated at Hobart High School, he was articled to three separate firms before being admitted as a solicitor in 1884 and immediately received an offer from Brisbane solicitor, Thomas Macdonald-Paterson to join him as a partner in the firm Macdonald-Patterson, Fitzgerald & Hawthorn. The firm was later to become Hawthorn & Byram in 1900, Hawthorn & Lightoller in 1916, and A. G. C. Hawthorn & Co. in 1931.^[2]

Political career

Hawthorn was elected to the Ithaca Shire Council in 1899, and rose to be president in 1901. From 1901 until 1904 he was also an executive of the Local Authorities' Association of Queensland.^[2]

At the 1902 Queensland elections, Hawthorn, representing the Ministerialists, contested the seat of Enoggera, soundly defeating the sitting Labour member, Matthew Reid.^[3] During his time as member, Hawthorn was twice Home Secretary, for eight months in 1907 and for four months in 1908.^[1] On 29 October 1908, Hawthorn was appointed Treasurer of Queensland, remaining in the role until his resignation from the Legislative Assembly on 7 February 1911.^[1]

Headstone of Arthur George Clarence Hawthorn

Four days after his resignation, Hawthorn was appointed to the Legislative Council,^[4] but resigned on 23 March 1912 to unsuccessfully contest the seat of Ithaca at the 1912 Queensland state election where he was defeated by the Labor candidate, John Gilday.^[5] Three months later, he was once again appointed to the Council, this time remaining there till it was abolished in March 1922.^[6]

Personal life

Hawthorn married Mary Stewart (died 1949)^[7] at Glen Lyon^[8] on 12 December 1894 and together had two daughters, Alice and Dorothy.^[1] He died in May 1934^[9] and his funeral proceeded from Farnborough, his home in Ashgrove to the Toowong Cemetery.^[10]