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Chris Watson |
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Info: Biography, Pictures, Discography of all CDs & DVDs |
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| For other uses, see Chris Watson (musician).November 18, 1941), commonly known as Chris Watson, Australian politician, was the third Prime Minister of Australia, and the first federal parliamentary leader of the Australian Labour Party (renamed Labor in 1912 by King O'Malley).He was the party's first prime minister, and the first Labour Party prime minister in the world.Despite being elected Labour leader by the party caucus two months after the inaugural 1901 federal election (just before the first meeting of Parliament) and retiring in 1907, his tenure as Prime Minister was brief at only four months in 1904.According to Percival Serle, Watson "left a much greater impression on his time than this would suggest.He came at the right moment for his party, and nothing could have done it more good than the sincerity, courtesy and moderation which he always showed as a leader."In 1868 his parents separated, and in 1869 she married George Watson, whose name young Chris then took.None of these facts became known until after Watson's death.Watson is the only Australian Prime Minister not to have been born in either Australia or Great Britain.In 1886 he moved to Sydney to better his prospects.He found work as a compositor for several newspapers.Colonial state upper houses, and the UK House of Lords.Watson was devoted to the idea of a referendum as an ideal feature of democracy.To ensure that Reid might finally bring New South Wales into national union on an amended draft constitution, Watson helped to negotiate a deal, involving the party executive, that included the nomination of four Labor men to the Legislative Council.At the March 1899 annual party conference, Hughes and Holman moved to have those arrangements nullified and party policy on Federation changed, thus thwarting Reid's plans.He had made an essential contribution to that democratic decision.Arriving in May in the temporary seat of government Melbourne, Watson was elected the first leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party (usually known as the Caucus).He kept the Protectionist governments of Edmund Barton and Alfred Deakin in office, in exchange for legislation enacting the Labour platform.Watson, as a Labour moderate, genuinely admired Deakin and shared his liberal views on many subjects.Deakin reciprocated this sentiment.He wrote in one of his anonymous articles in a London newspaper: "The Labour section has much cause for gratitude to Mr Watson, the leader whose tact and judgement have enabled it to achieve many of its Parliamentary successes."Watson in the Australian House of Representatives in 1902.Labor under Watson more than doubled their vote at the 1903 federal election and continued to hold the balance of power.Free Trade leader George Reid declined to take office, which saw Watson become the first Labor Prime Minister of Australia.He was aged only 37, and is still the youngest Prime Minister in Australia's history.He had dressed for the part; his Vandyke beard was exquisitely groomed, his abundant brown hair smoothly brushed.His morning coat and vest, set off by dark striped trousers, beautifully creased and shyly revealing the kind of socks that young men dream about; and shoes to match.Six bills were enacted during the brief government of John Christian Watson.General Lord Northcote refused.Unable to command a majority in the House of Representatives, Watson resigned, and his term in office ended on 18 August 1904, and Free Trade leader George Reid became Prime Minister.At this election the seat of Bland was abolished, so he shifted to the seat of South Sydney.He also pursued a business career.But in 1916 the Labor party split over the issue of conscription for World War I, and Watson sided with Hughes and the conscriptionists.He was expelled from the party he had helped found.Watson devoted the rest of his life to business.He helped found the National Roads and Motorists Association (NRMA) and remained its chairman until his death.He was also a founder of the Australian Motorists Petrol Co Ltd (Ampol).His wife Ada died in 1921.On 30 October 1925 Watson married Antonia Mary Gladys Dowlan in the same church in which he had married Ada 36 years previously.He and Antonia had one daughter, Jacqueline.Watson's daughter, Jacqueline Dunn, 77, was guest of honour at these functions.The Canberra suburb Watson and the federal electorate of Watson are named after him.All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.Your browser does not support frames.Not the Chris Watson you're looking for?Trivia:
Taught at a college in Kansas before moving to California.Friendly NeighborSlaughter Party (2005) (V) ....Mute BoyMinds of Terror (2003) (V) (as Chuck Fonda) ....Department:Zombiegeddon (2003) (V) (assistant makeup artist: second unit) Self:Make Your Own Damn Movie!Time Is of the Assence (2005) TV episode ....You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers.They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update.Current information is available on this person.Get address, phone, and more instantly.Find Chris Watson at Reunion.Profiles Found: Register for Free and find chris watson.Chris WatsonBy: Chris WatsonCredited Role:Main PerformerSong List: Adult Cheetah, Southern Right Whale, Male Capercallie Displ...Current information is available on this person.Find Chris Watson at Reunion.Profiles Found: Register for Free and find chris watson.Chris Watson at Amazon.Current address and phone available.Build your own online store or Advertise with us.View RSS FeedMake money with Yahoo!Learn more about our paid syndication program. |
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![Rock - Various Artists : [1968] Mr Wonderful](/covers/13/13754/alb_84138_th.jpg "Rock - Various Artists : [1968] Mr Wonderful")
