Arthur Hodgson

For the Australian rules footballer, see Arthur Hodgson (footballer).

Sir Arthur Hodgson KCMG
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Clarence and Darling Downs
In office 29 January 1858 – 11 April 1859
Preceded by	Clark Irving
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Newcastle
In office 14 June 1859 – 10 November 1860
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	James Hannell
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Warrego
In office 18 September 1868 – 23 November 1869
Preceded by	Graham Mylne
Succeeded by	Thomas McIlwraith
Personal details
Born	Arthur Hodgson 29 June 1818 Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England
Died	24 December 1902 (aged 84) Clopton House, near Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England
Resting place	Stratford-upon-Avon Cemetery
Nationality	English Australian
Spouse(s)	Eliza Dowling (m.1842 d.1902)
Relations	Edward Hodgson (brother), Sir James Dowling (father-in-law)
Alma mater	Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Occupation	Grazier, Squire
Religion	Church of England

Sir Arthur Hodgson KCMG (29 June 1818 – 24 December 1902^[1]) was an Australian pioneer and politician.

Early life

Hodgson was born in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England; the second son of the Rev. Edward Hodgson and his third wife Charlotte, daughter of Francis William Pemberton of Bombay, India. Hodgson was educated at Eton from 1828–33 and then entered the Royal Navy and was a midshipman from 1833–37 on HMS Canopus on the China station. In 1837–38 he studied at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.^[2]

Australia

In 1839 Hodgson moved to Australia, arriving in Sydney, and soon leased Cashiobury run in the New England district. In July 1840, he sought new land in the further north in the Moreton Bay district (as it was then known, now called Queensland) based on advice from Patrick Leslie. With a partner, Gilbert Eliott, Hodgon took up Eton Vale, the second pastoral run on the Darling Downs in September 1840.^[1] In 1842 he married the daughter of Sir James Dowling, Chief Justice of New South Wales, which helped advance his position there. In 1856–61 he became general superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company.^[3]

Hodgson represented Clarence and Darling Downs in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1858 and Newcastle in 1859.^[4] After the separation of Queensland, he was elected to its Legislative Assembly representing Warrego.^[5] Hodgson was minister for public works in the Mackenzie ministry from September to November 1868 and colonial secretary in the Lilley ministry from January to November 1869.^[1] He was acting-premier during the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh.^[3]

Sir Arthur Hodgson, Portrait by Henry Jones Thaddeus, 1899

Return to England

In 1870 Hodgson returned to England, settled at Clopton House near Stratford-upon-Avon, of which town he became mayor, and took much interest in the Shakespearian memorials there, and also in the volunteer movement.^[3] Hodgson served as High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1881, as mayor of Stratford from 1883-1888, as well as high steward of the borough from 1884-1889.^[1] He represented Queensland at various European exhibitions, and did useful work in helping to develop the Queensland trade in meat and other products.^[3] Hodgson was created Companion (CMG) of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1878, and Knight Commander (KCMG) in that Order in 1886 for services in representing Queensland in the exhibitions of Vienna (1873), Paris (1878) and London (1886).

Family

Hodgson married, in 1842, Eliza Dowling, second daughter of Sir James Dowling. They had seven children, including Annie Frances Hodgson,^[1] who went on to marry James Wilfred Hewitt, 5th Viscount Lifford.^[6] Lady Hodgson died on 2 May 1902, in her 81st year.^[7] Hodgson died later that year, at Clopton House on 24 December 1902^[1] and was buried with his wife in Stratford-upon-Avon Cemetery.^[8]

Further reading

• Hodgson, Arthur, Sir (1844–1926), Arthur Hodgson Archive, 1844-1926 – via State Library of Queensland

References

1. • D. B. Waterson, 'Hodgson, Sir Arthur (1818–1902)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 4, MUP, 1972, pp 405–406. retrieved 1 August 2009
2. "Hodgson, Arthur (HG837A)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
3. Percival Serle. "Dictionary of Australian Biography".
4. "Former Members". Parliament of New South Wales. 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
5. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
6. Darryl Lundy. "James Wilfrid Hewitt, 5th Viscount Lifford".
7. "Obituary". The Times (36758). London. 3 May 1902. p. 14.
8. Cemetery Burials Register — Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Retrieved 15 February 2015.

External links

• Grass Dukes and Shepherd Kings, State Library of Queensland