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Former Member Details

Mr John Brown WATT (1826 - 1897)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 16/05/1826
Place of Birth: Edinburgh, Scotland
Date of Death: 28/09/1897
Place of Death: Bournmouth, England
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 03 Nov 1874 29 Apr 1890 15 years 5 months 27 days Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 29 October 1874
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 03 Sep 1861 09 Apr 1866 4 years 7 months 7 days Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 24 June 1861
Political Party Activity
Community Activity
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Businessman and pastoralist. Matriculated at University of Edinburgh in 1840. Arrived in Australia in December 1842; became a clerk in uncle's mercantile firm of Gilchrist & Alexander. Travelled to North Queensland in 1848 and journeyed to England in 1850. Entered gold buying business with partners. Business continued under the same name and had a branch in London. By 1860, was involved in Pacific Islands trade, and acted as agent for shipping firms, had pastoral interests and squatting agencies in New South Wales and Queensland; also advanced finance to pastoralists and was a wool consignment agency. Held runs on his own by 1859 and in 1866 held six in New South Wales. Chairman of Newcastle Coal and Copper Company; and of Mutual Life Association of Australasia. Director of New South Wales Marine Assurance Company; Liverpool & London & Globe Insurance Company., Union Bank of Australia., Pyrmont Bridge Company., Australian Gaslight Company; Vice president of Marine Board of New South Wales; Ardent free trader. Director of Sydney Infirmary and Dispensary from 1869 until 1873, and of Prince Alfred Hospital. Founder of the Hospital for Sick Children at Glebe, Member of Union and Australia Clubs, president of Mercantile Rowing Club. Visited Britain from 1866 until 1868, 1876, 1884 and returned there in 1888.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Personal
Eldest son of Alexander Hamilton Watt and Margaret Gilchrist. Married Mary Jane Holden on 30 July 1861 at Sydney and had issue, 5 daughters and 5 sons. Presbyterian.
Additional Information
Biography and portrait in ‘Australian Men of Mark’, Volume 1. Sydney, [?1889] , page 76