Sir Arthur Morgan
16th Premier of Queensland
In office 17 September 1903 – 19 January 1906
Preceded by	Robert Philp
Succeeded by	William Kidston
Born	19 September 1856(1856-09-19) Warwick, Queensland
Died	20 December 1916 (aged 60) Paddington, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Spouse(s)	Alice Augusta Clinton
Occupation	Newspaper proprietor
Religion	Anglican

Sir Arthur Morgan (19 September 1856 – 20 December 1916) was the Premier of Queensland, Australia from 1903 to 1906.

Morgan was born in Warwick, Queensland, the fourth son of James Morgan (who later represented Warwick, in the Queensland Legislative Assembly and became chairman of committees) and his wife Kate, née Barton. Arthur Morgan was educated at the public school at Warwick, and then joined the staff of the Warwick Argus which was owned and edited by his father. Morgan married Alice Augusta Clinton (daughter of H. E. Clinton) on 26 July 1880. Morgan became a member of the Warwick Municipal Council in 1885 and served as mayor 1886-90 and 1898. In 1883 he was elected a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Warwick, held his seat until 1896, and was re-elected in 1899. In that year he was chosen as speaker and showed ability in this position.

In 1903 Robert Philp resigned on account of defections from his party, and the leader of the Labour party being unable to form a ministry, Morgan was asked to lead a combination of some of the liberals and the Labour party. He resigned the speakership, formed a ministry, and became premier, chief secretary, secretary for railways and vice-president of the executive council. A policy of retrenchment was carried out which gave Morgan some temporary unpopularity, and his combining with the Labour party was much questioned by his former associates. The position, however, was one of some difficulty when Philp resigned, as at the moment there appeared to be no outstanding man to take his place, and Morgan felt it to be his duty to carry on a government. In January 1906, after the death of Sir Hugh Nelson, he was appointed president of the Queensland Legislative Council and on two occasions was acting-governor. In 1908 he was appointed lieutenant-governor of Queensland. In his later years Morgan's health was not good and he died on 20 December 1916. Morgan was survived by his wife, five sons and three daughters. He published in 1902, Discovery and Development of the Downs; he was knighted in 1907.

Morgan came into prominence by his natural courtesy and even-temper which made him an excellent chairman of committees, speaker, president of the council and lieutenant-governor. He was a first-class servant of the public who earned respect in politics, and carried out with conspicuous ability the high offices to which he was called.

[edit] References

• Rod Kirkpatrick, 'Morgan, Sir Arthur (1856 - 1916)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 10, MUP, 1986, pp 584-585. Retrieved 2009-10-15
• Serle, Percival (1949). "Morgan, Arthur". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. http://gutenberg.net.au/dictbiog/0-dict-biogMa-Mo.html#morgan1. 

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