James McGowan (politician)

The Honourable
James McGowan
The Honourable James McGowan
	James McGowan in 1908
16th Minister of Justice
	In office; 23 January 1900 – 6 January 1909
Prime Minister	Richard Seddon; William Hall-Jones; Joseph Ward
Preceded by	Thomas Thompson
Succeeded by	John Findlay
2nd Minister of Police
	In office; 23 January 1900 – 6 January 1909
Prime Minister	Richard Seddon ; William Hall-Jones ; Joseph Ward
Preceded by	Thomas Thompson
Succeeded by	John Findlay
3rd Minister of Industries and Commerce
	In office; 23 November 1906 – 6 January 1909
Prime Minister	Joseph Ward
Preceded by	Joseph Ward
Succeeded by	Thomas Mackenzie
18th Minister of Immigration
	In office; 6 August 1906 – 9 January 1909
Prime Minister	Joseph Ward
Preceded by	Charles H. Mills
Succeeded by	George Fowlds
9th Minister of Mines
	In office; 21 December 1899 – 6 January 1909
Prime Minister	Richard Seddon ; William Hall-Jones ; Joseph Ward
Preceded by	Alfred Cadman
Succeeded by	Roderick McKenzie
New Zealand Legislative Councillor
	In office; 6 January 1909 – 7 May 1912
Nominated by	Joseph Ward
Appointed by	The Lord Plunket
Member of the New Zealand Parliament; for Thames
	In office; 26 July 1893 – 6 January 1909
Preceded by	Alfred Cadman
Succeeded by	Edmund Taylor
Personal details
Born	1841; Maxwell's Court, County Down, Ireland
Died	7 May 1912 (aged 70–71)
Political party	Liberal Party

James McGowan (1841 – 7 May 1912) was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.

Biography

McGowan was born in Maxwell's Court, County Down, Ireland, in 1841. He emigrated to Auckland in 1865 on the ship Liverpool. After five years, he moved to Thames, where he had a large store and a bakery.^[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years	Term	Electorate
1893	11th	Thames	Liberal
1893–1896	12th	Thames	Liberal
1896–1899	13th	Thames	Liberal
1899–1902	14th	Thames	Liberal
1902–1905	15th	Thames	Liberal
1905–1908	16th	Thames	Liberal
1908–1909	17th	Thames	Liberal

He was Mayor of Thames in 1889, and in 1892–1893.^[2]

He represented the Thames electorate in Parliament from an 1893 by-election. The by-election was caused after the resignation of Liberal Party MP Alfred Cadman. The Liberals selected the incumbent Mayor of Thames, James McGowan as their candidate for Cadman's seat. After a large public gathering, it was decided not to run another candidate against McGowan in light of a general election being only months away, resulting in McGowan being elected unopposed.^[3]

From 1896 until 1900 he was the Liberal Party's junior whip.^[4]

He was Minister of Justice and Minister of Mines from 23 January 1900 in the Liberal Government. From 6 August 1906, he was Minister of Immigration. From 23 November 1906, he was Minister of Industries and Commerce. He held all ministerial posts until his resignation from the lower house.^[5]

He resigned on 6 January 1909^[6] so that he could be appointed to the Legislative Council on that same day, where he served until his death.^[7]

Notes

^ Cyclopedia Company Limited (1902). "The Hon. James McGowan". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Auckland Provincial District. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
^ "Mayors and Councillors of Thames". The Treasury. Archived from the original on 11 February 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
^ "New Zealand Telegrams". Grey River Argus. 24 July 1893. p. 4. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
^ Wilson 1985, pp. 279.
^ Scholefield 1950, pp. 41–42.
^ Scholefield 1950, p. 122.
^ Scholefield 1950, p. 80.

References

Scholefield, Guy (1950) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1949 (3rd ed.). Wellington: Govt. Printer.
Wilson, James Oakley (1985). New Zealand parliamentary record, 1840-1984. Wellington, N.Z.: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 13580911.

Political offices
Preceded by Thomas Thompson	Minister of Justice 1900–1909	Succeeded by John Findlay
Preceded by Thomas Thompson	Minister of Police 1900–1909	Succeeded by John Findlay
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Alfred Cadman	Member of Parliament for Thames 1893–1909	Succeeded by Edmund Taylor

This article about a mayor in New Zealand is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[NZETC_McGowan-1] Cyclopedia Company Limited (1902). "The Hon. James McGowan". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Auckland Provincial District. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 May 2012.

[Mayors_and_Councillors-2] "Mayors and Councillors of Thames". The Treasury. Archived from the original on 11 February 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2012.

[New_Zealand_Telegrams-3] "New Zealand Telegrams". Grey River Argus. 24 July 1893. p. 4. Retrieved 10 November 2015.

[FOOTNOTEWilson1985279-4] Wilson 1985, pp. 279.

[FOOTNOTEScholefield195041–42-5] Scholefield 1950, pp. 41–42.

[FOOTNOTEScholefield1950122-6] Scholefield 1950, p. 122.

[FOOTNOTEScholefield195080-7] Scholefield 1950, p. 80.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]