John Nanson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Nanson
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| Attorney-General of Western Australia | |
| In office 30 June 1909 – 7 October 1911 |
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| Premier | Newton Moore Frank Wilson |
| Preceded by | Hector Rason |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Walker |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia |
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| In office 24 April 1901 – 28 June 1904 |
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| Preceded by | Samuel Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | John Holman |
| Constituency | Murchison |
| In office 28 June 1904 – 27 October 1905 |
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| Preceded by | Patrick Stone |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Stone |
| Constituency | Greenough |
| In office 11 September 1908 – 21 October 1914 |
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| Preceded by | Patrick Stone |
| Succeeded by | John Cunningham |
| Constituency | Greenough |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 September 1863 Carlisle, Cumberland, England |
| Died | 29 February 1916 (aged 52) Wimborne, Dorset, England |
| Spouse | Janet Nanson |
John Leighton Nanson (born 22 September 1863 – died 29 February 1916) was an important person in Western Australia. He was a journalist and later a politician. John Nanson worked as a writer and editor for The West Australian newspaper. He also served in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, which is like a state parliament. He was a member from 1901 to 1905 and again from 1908 to 1914. Nanson was a minister in several governments, including being the Attorney-General (the chief legal advisor) from 1909 to 1911.
Contents
John Nanson: A Life in Politics
Early Years and Journalism
John Nanson was born in Carlisle, Cumberland, England. He went to school at Carlisle Grammar School and King William's College. After finishing school, he moved to Australia. He first lived in Broken Hill, New South Wales, and then in South Australia.
In the mid-1880s, John Nanson arrived in Western Australia. He started working as a journalist. By 1899, he became an associate editor for The West Australian newspaper. Before that, he reported for the newspaper from Fremantle.
Becoming a Politician
John Nanson decided to enter politics. He was elected to parliament in the 1901 Western Australian state election. He won the seat of Murchison. He took this seat from the person who held it before, Samuel Mitchell.
Just seven months after becoming a Member of Parliament (MP), he was given a big job. In November 1901, he became the Minister for Lands. This was part of a new government called the Morgans Ministry. This government only lasted for 32 days.
Serving as a Minister
John Nanson became a minister again in January 1904. He was a minister without portfolio in the James Ministry. This means he was a minister but without a specific department at first. A few months later, he became the Minister for Works. He replaced Hector Rason in this role. However, the government lost power in August 1904. This happened after a "vote of no confidence," which means most politicians no longer supported the government.
Key Roles and Changes
For the 1904 Western Australian state election, Nanson changed the area he represented. He ran for the seat of Greenough and won, defeating Patrick Stone. The seat he used to hold, Murchison, was then won by the Labor Party.
John Nanson did not run for parliament in the 1905 Western Australian state election. Instead, he traveled to England to study law. He became a barrister in 1908. A barrister is a type of lawyer who can argue cases in higher courts. Later that year, he returned to Australia. He successfully won back the seat of Greenough in the 1908 Western Australian state election.
In May 1909, Nanson became a minister for the third time. He was a minister without portfolio in the Moore ministry. The next month, he was given two important jobs. He became the Attorney-General and the Minister for Education. He kept these jobs when Frank Wilson became premier in September 1910. However, his government lost the 1911 Western Australian state election.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1913, John Nanson left for England. He did not run for the Greenough seat again in the 1914 Western Australian state election. He passed away in Wimborne, Dorset, England, in February 1916. He was 52 years old.
His Family Life
John Nanson married Janet Drummond Durlacher in 1887. Janet was also a journalist. She worked for The West Australian newspaper. They had two children, but only one lived to be an adult. Janet Nanson was a talented writer. She wrote under the pen name "Sigma" in Perth. She also helped start the "Aunt Mary" column for the Western Mail newspaper. Later, she wrote about politics when her husband owned the Morning Herald newspaper. Janet Nanson died in Perth in 1943.
