HODGSON, Sir Arthur (1818-1902)

Queensland pioneer and politician

son of the Rev. Edward Hodgson, was born in England on 29 June 1818 and was educated at Eton and Cambridge. He entered the royal navy and for three years was on the China station. He then went to Australia, arrived at Sydney in 1840, and soon afterwards became one of the early settlers in the Moreton Bay district, now Queensland. In 1856 he was appointed general superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company. He represented Darling Downs in the New South Wales parliament, and after the foundation of Queensland, was elected to its legislative assembly. He was minister for public works in the Mackenzie (q.v.) ministry from September to November 1868 and colonial secretary in the Lilley (q.v.) ministry from January to November 1869. He was acting-premier during the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh. In 1874 Hodgson returned to England, settled at Stratford-on-Avon, of which he became mayor, and took much interest in the Shakespearian memorials there, and also in the volunteer movement. He represented Queensland at various European exhibitions, and did useful work in helping to develop the Queensland trade in meat and other products. He died at Stratford on 24 December 1902. He married in 1842 Eliza, daughter of Sir James Dowling (q.v.), who died before him. He was created C.M.G. in 1878, and K.C.M.G. in 1886.

The Times, 25 December 1902; Burke's Peerage, etc., 1902; P. Mennell, The Dictionary of Australasian Biography.