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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the National Archives' website and collection contain the names, images and voices of people who have died.

Some records include terms and views that are not appropriate today. They reflect the period in which they were created and are not the views of the National Archives.

Portrait of Chris Watson

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  3. Australia's prime ministers
  4. Chris Watson
  5. Chris Watson: fast facts

Chris Watson: fast facts

Chris Watson was the Prime Minister of Australia in 1904.

Personal profile

Born

(probably) 9 April 1867, Valparaiso, Chile

Education

  • Weston School, New Zealand (c.1877-79)
  • typographical trade certificate (c.1886)

Employment

  • newspaper compositor
  • politician
  • union official
  • company director

Memberships

  • Typographers Union, Oamaru
  • New Zealand Land League
  • Typographical Association of New South Wales
  • Land Nationalisation Society New South Wales

Marriages

  • Ada Low, 27 November 1889 
  • Antonia Dowlan, 30 October 1925 

Child with Antonia Dowlan: Jacqueline (1927)

Died

18 November 1941, Double Bay, New South Wales

Buried

Cremated, ashes at North Sydney Crematorium

Honours

No official honours conferred

Partner

Name

Ada Jane Watson

Previous name

Ada Jane Low

Born

1855, England

Died

19 July 1921, Sydney, New South Wales

Political profile

Term as Prime Minister

27 April 1904 to 18 August 1904

Terms as Member of Parliament

  • New South Wales Legislative Assembly
    • July 1894 to March 1901 (Young)
  • House of Representatives
    • 9 May 1901 to December 1906 (Bland)
    • December 1906 to 13 April 1910 (South Sydney)
  • Leader of the Opposition
    • 18 August 1904 to 5 July 1905

Portfolios

  • Treasurer: 27 April to 18 August 1904

Political memberships

  • Australian Labor Party (1900-16)
    • federal parliamentary leader (8 May 1901 to 24 October 1907)
  • Nationalist Party (1917-c.22)
  • Australian Workers Union (1894-1916)
  • Australian Industries Protection League (New South Wales)

After office

  • Australian Workers Union official
  • National Roads Association president (1920-23)
  • National Roads and Motorists Association president (1923-41)
  • Australian Motorists Petrol Co Ltd (Ampol) (1936-)

In this section: Chris Watson

  • Fast facts
  • Timeline
  • Before office
  • Elections
  • During office
  • After office
  • Partner
  • Key people
  • Records

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