Jeremiah Francis Donovan

The Hon
Jeremiah Donovan
Member of the Queensland Legislative Council
In office
19 February 1920 – 23 March 1922
Personal details
Born
Jeremiah Francis Donovan

1873
Cork, Ireland
Died12 December 1949 (aged 75 or 76)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting placeToowong Cemetery
NationalityIrish Australian
Political partyLabor
OccupationPolice officer, publican

Jeremiah Francis Donovan (1873 – 12 December 1949) was a member of the Queensland Legislative Council.[1]

Early life

Donovan was born at Cork, Ireland to Cornelius Donovan and his wife Ellen (née Gallagher). Before leaving for Australia, he served with the Royal Irish Constabulary. He continued his police service in Queensland, where he joined the Queensland Police, specializing in fingerprinting.

Political career

When the Labour Party starting forming governments in Queensland, it found much of its legislation being blocked by a hostile Council, where members had been appointed for life by successive conservative governments. After a failed referendum in May 1917,[2] Premier Ryan tried a new tactic, and later that year advised the Governor, Sir Hamilton John Goold-Adams, to appoint thirteen new members whose allegiance lay with Labour to the Council.[3] The Council, however, continued to reject the government's money bills and in 1918 Ryan advised Goold-Adams to appoint additional Labour members, but this time he refused the request.[3]

In 1920, the new Premier Ted Theodore appointed a further 14 new members to the Council[4] with Donovan amongst the appointees.[1] He served for two years until the Council was abolished in March 1922.[1]

Personal life

Donovan was proprietor of the Transcontinental, Treasury, and City View hotels in Brisbane.

Dying in December 1949, Donovan's funeral was held at St Stephen's Cathedral[5] and proceeded to the Toowong Cemetery.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  2. ^ "TWO HOUSES, NOT ONE". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 7 May 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  3. ^ a b Goold-Adams, Sir Hamilton John (1858–1920) – Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  4. ^ "LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 20 February 1920. p. 9. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Family Notices". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 13 December 1949. p. 16. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  6. ^ Donovan Jerimiah Francis Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine — Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search. Retrieved 8 April 2015.