Thomas Givens

The Honourable
Thomas Givens
Senator for Queensland
In office
1 January 1904 – 19 June 1928
Personal details
Born 26 February 1864(1864-02-26)
Tipperary, Ireland
Died 19 June 1928(1928-06-19) (aged 64)
Nationality Irish Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party
Occupation Miner

Thomas Givens (26 February 1864 – 19 June 1928) was an Irish-born Australian politician. Born in County Tipperary, he received a primary education before migrating to Australia in 1882. He became a bush worker and miner in Queensland, and was secretary of the Queensland Miners' Union, as well as proprietor of the Cairns Daily Times. In 1899, he was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly as the Labor member for Cairns, a position he held until 1902. In 1903, he was elected to the Australian Senate as a Queensland Labor Senator.

On 9 July 1913, he was elected President of the Senate, succeeding his Labor colleague Harry Turley. He left the Labor Party in the wake of the 1916 split over conscription and joined the new Nationalist Party, keeping his position as President of the Senate. On 30 June 1926, he was succeeded as President by John Newlands. His 13 years as President make him the second longest serving President after Alister McMullin. Givens died in 1928 while still a Senator; the Queensland Parliament appointed Labor member John MacDonald as his replacement.[1]

References

  1. ^ Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia. Retrieved 2008-11-16. 
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Harry Turley
President of the Senate
1913 – 1926
Succeeded by
John Newlands