John Watchorn

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John Watchorn (1826 – 4 March 1905) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council from 1882 until his death in 1905 and was Mayor of Hobart in 1890 and from 1894 to 1896.[1][2]

Watchorn was born in Nottingham, England in 1826.[1] He migrated to Tasmania with his family in 1837.[3] He was a publican and wine merchant outside of politics. He was a City of Hobart councillor from 1876 to 1896 and mayor in 1890 and from 1894 to 1896.[2] He also served as a magistrate and as a member of the Metropolitan Drainage Board.[4]

Watchorn was declared elected unopposed to the Legislative Council in June 1881, filling a vacancy in the Huon electorate caused by the invalidation of 's 1880 election.[5] However, his election was challenged by petition, and in August 1881 the Elections and Qualifications Committee of the Legislative Council unseated Watchorn and declared , Solomon's 1880 challenger, to have been elected.[6][7] Fisher died on 3 April 1882, and Watchorn won the resulting May 1882 by-election comfortably.[8] He was re-elected numerous times and served in the Legislative Council until his death in 1905.[1]

He died in office in March 1905 and was buried at Cornelian Bay Cemetery.[9]

Watchorn married Dorcas Anne Blakey (née Collins) on 15 August 1854. She predeceased him, and they had ten children.[3][4]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "The Parliament of Tasmania from 1856". Parliament of Tasmania. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Former Aldermen and Commissioners". City of Hobart. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  3. ^ a b "JOHN WATCHORN AND FAMILY". Tasmanian Archives Online. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b "OBITUARY". The Mercury. LXXXIII (10, 913). Tasmania. 4 March 1905. p. 5. Retrieved 23 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "TASMANIAN TELEGRAMS". The Mercury. XXXVIII (6248). Tasmania. 21 June 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 23 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "TASMANIA". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. XXXII (1100). 6 August 1881. p. 255. Retrieved 23 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "THE MERCURY". The Mercury. XXXIX (6286). Tasmania. 4 August 1881. p. 2. Retrieved 23 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "HUON ELECTION". The Tasmanian. XI (18). Tasmania. 6 May 1882. p. 485. Retrieved 23 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "DEATH OF HON J. WATCHORN". The North Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times. Tasmania. 6 March 1905. p. 2. Retrieved 22 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
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