Henry Dobson

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = Henry Dobson
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caption =
order = 17th
office = Premier of Tasmania
term_start = August 17, 1892
term_end = April 14, 1894
deputy =
governor =
predecessor = Philip Fysh
successor = Edward Braddon
constituency =
majority =
birth_date = birth date|1841|12|24
birth_place = Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land
death_date = death date and age|1918|10|10|1841|12|24
death_place = Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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spouse = Emily Lempriere
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occupation =
profession = Lawyer
net worth =
cabinet =
committees =
portfolio =
religion =

Henry Dobson (December 24, 1841 – October 10, 1918), was an Australian politician, who served as a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly and later of the Australian Senate. He was the 17th Premier of Tasmania from August 17, 1892 to April 14, 1894.

Early life and legal career

Born in Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), Dobson was educated at The Hutchins School and worked for a merchant firm before commencing legal training with Allport, Robson & Allport. He was admitted to the Tasmanian Bar in 1846, and partnered with William Giblin from 1865 to 1870, and was a senior partner in the law firm Dobson, Mitchell & Allport (started by his father).E. M. Dollery, [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080334b.htm Dobson, Henry (1841 - 1918)] , "Australian Dictionary of Biography", Volume 8, Melbourne University Press, 1981, pp 311-312.]

Political career

Tasmanian House of Assembly

Dobson's political career began on 12 August 1891, when he was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly representing the electorate of Brighton. He was quickly made Leader of the Opposition the next month, and became Premier of Tasmania on August 17, 1892 after the fall of Philip Fysh's government.

Dobson had a keen interest in education, and introduced compulsory education legislation into the Tasmanian parliament. He also promoted Tasmania as a tourist destination and fruit-growing centre, attributes which it remains known for today. Economic factors required him to make difficult decisions, and when a proposed retrenchment program was rejected in the Parliament, Dobson obtained a dissolution from the Governor, and then resigned as Premier on April 14, 1894 when the situation remained unchanged after the election.

After retiring as Premier, Dobson remained in his seat until he retired on 9 March 1900.

Australian Senate

Dobson was an ardent supporter of the Federation of Australia, and when federation took place in 1901, Dobson was elected as a member of the first Australian Senate for Tasmania. He remained in the Senate for over nine years, but retired when he lost the election on June 30, 1910.

Later life

After retiring from politics, Dobson turned his efforts to promoting Tasmanian tourism. He founded and was president of the Tasmanian Tourist Association from 1893 [ [http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/bb8db737e2af84b8ca2571780015701e/33C8266304704046CA256C3200241895?opendocument 1384.6 - Statistics - Tasmania, 2005] , Australian Bureau of Statistics, September 9 2005.] , helped found the Tourist and Information Bureau and the Scenery Preservation Board in 1915, and was chairman of the National Park Board from 1917 to 1918.

Dobson died on October 10, 1918 in Hobart.

References

External links

* [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/tasparl/dobsonh224.htm Parliamentary Library profile]