John Evans (Australian politician)

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix = Sir
name = John Evans
honorific-suffix = CMG


imagesize =
small

caption =
order = 21st
office = Premier of Tasmania
term_start = July 11, 1904
term_end = June 19, 1909
deputy =
predecessor = William Propsting
successor = Sir Elliott Lewis
constituency =
majority =
birth_date = birth date|1855|12|1
birth_place = Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK
death_date = death date and age|1943|10|2|1855|12|1
death_place = Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
restingplace = Cornelian Bay, Tasmania
restingplacecoordinates =
birthname = John William Evans
nationality =
party =
otherparty =
spouse = Emily Mary Harcourt

Sir John William Evans, CMG (1 December, 1855 – 2 October, 1943) was an Australian politician, a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly and Premier of Tasmania from July 11, 1904 to June 19, 1909.

Early life and nautical career

Evans was born in 1855 in Liverpool, England, but migrated with his family to Battery Point, Tasmania when he was four years old. After education in Hobart, Evans embarked on a year-long voyage through Asian ports with his parents. His father, a merchant seaman, arranged an apprenticeship for him on his part-owned barque, "Helen", trading to China and Japan.W. A. Townsley, [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A080472b.htm Evans, Sir John William (1855 - 1943)] , "Australian Dictionary of Biography", Volume 8, Melbourne University Press, 1981, p. 447.]

Political career

John was first elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in the electorate of Kingborough on the 20 January, 1897. He did not have a political party, at this time, but is described as Anti-Socialist. Evans became Premier on 12 July, 1904. Holding office until 19 June, 1909. In 1909 his seat of Kingborough was abolished and replaced with the Division of Franklin. He won the seat back in 1909 and continued to serve in parliament until 1937 as Commonwealth Liberal and Nationalist. His time in parliament 1897-1937, 40 years, makes him the longest serving member in Tasmania. [ [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/tasparl/evansj262.htm Parliamentary Library profile] , Parliament of Tasmania.]

References