Frank Wilson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frank Wilson
Frank Wilson
9th Premier of Western Australia
In office 16 September 1910 – 7 October 1911
Preceded by	Newton Moore
Succeeded by	John Scaddan
In office 27 July 1916 – 28 June 1918
Preceded by	John Scaddan
Succeeded by	Sir Henry Lefroy
Personal details
Born	12 May 1859 Monkwearmouth, Durham, England
Died	7 December 1918 Claremont, Western Australia
Political party	Ministerialist Liberal League
Occupation	Coalmine owner Company director

Frank Wilson was an important political leader in Western Australia a long time ago. He served as the Premier, which is like the head of the government for the state, two different times. He worked hard to lead Western Australia during a time of big changes and challenges.

Who Was Frank Wilson?

Frank Wilson was born on 12 May 1859, in a place called Monkwearmouth, in Durham, England. Before he became a politician, he was a successful businessman. He owned a coalmine and was a director for several companies. This experience likely helped him understand how to manage large projects and work with many people.

Moving to Western Australia

Frank Wilson later moved to Western Australia, which was a growing part of Australia at the time. Many people were moving there for new opportunities, especially with the discovery of gold. It was a time of big changes and development for the state.

Starting in Politics

Frank Wilson became involved in politics in Western Australia. He joined different political groups that were generally on the conservative side. These groups included the Liberal Party, the Liberal League, and the Ministerialist Party. These parties aimed to represent certain ideas and interests in the government.

Frank Wilson's Time as Premier

Being a Premier is a very important job. It means you are the leader of the state government. Frank Wilson held this top position twice.

First Term as Premier

Frank Wilson first became Premier of Western Australia on 16 September 1910. He served in this role for about a year, until 7 October 1911. During this time, he led the state government and made decisions that affected everyone living in Western Australia. However, his party lost the next election in October 1911 to the Australian Labor Party. This meant he had to step down as Premier.

Second Term as Premier

Even after losing the election, Frank Wilson remained an active politician. He worked to bring together other politicians who were not part of the Labor Party. He managed to form a new group of members. Because of this, he became Premier again on 27 July 1916.

Leading During World War I

His second term as Premier was during a very difficult time: World War I. This global conflict had a huge impact on Australia. Frank Wilson's government had to deal with many challenges related to supporting the war effort. This included managing resources and helping the community during wartime.

Changes in Political Support

During his second term, political groups were shifting. The Country Party was able to form a new group called the National Party. This new party aimed to unite politicians to support the war effort. Frank Wilson lost some of his support because of these changes.

End of His Political Career

In October 1917, Frank Wilson faced another election. He lost his seat in the parliament to a candidate from the Country Party by a very small number of votes – only four! This was a very close election.

Later Life and Legacy

After losing his seat, Frank Wilson's health declined. He passed away a few months later, on 7 December 1918, in Claremont, Western Australia. He was 59 years old.

Frank Wilson's time as Premier shows how important leadership is, especially during challenging periods like wartime. He played a significant role in the history of Western Australia during the early 20th century.