Jens Peterson Explained

Jens Petersen
Constituency Am1:Normanby
Assembly1:Queensland Legislative
Term Start1:22 May 1915
Term End1:11 Jun 1932
Predecessor1:Edward Archer
Successor1:Tom Foley
Constituency Am2:Fitzroy
Assembly2:Queensland Legislative
Term Start2:11 Jun 1932
Term End2:11 May 1935
Predecessor2:William Carter
Successor2:Jim Clark
Birth Date:11 December 1880
Birth Place:Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
Death Place:Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Restingplace:Frenchs Forest Cemetery
Birthname:James Christian Petersen
Nationality:Australian
Party:CPNP
Otherparty:Labor Party, Queensland United Party, Country Party
Spouse:Cordelia May Dawbarn (m.1905 d.1946)
Occupation:Builder

James Christian "Jens" Petersen (11 December 1880 – 30 April 1953) was a builder and member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

Biography

Petersen was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, to parents Neils Petersen and his wife Maria Elizabeth (née Thorsen). He attended school in Rockhampton and became a builder, working in Rockhampton, Mount Morgan, and Sydney. He was secretary of the Rockhampton Workers Political Organisation in 1898.[1]

In 1905 he married Cordelia May Dawbarn in Sydney and together had two daughters.[2] [3] He died in Sydney in April 1953[1] and was buried in Frenchs Forest Cemetery.[4]

Political career

Petersen, at first representing the Labor Party, won the Queensland seat of Normanby at the state election of 1915, defeating the Liberal's Edward Archer.[5] He held the seat until 1932 when he changed to Fitzroy and then retired from politics three years later.[1]

He resigned from the Labor Party while still an elected member for the seat of Normanby and joined the Country Party because he was disillusioned with Labor's socialist policies. In his resignation speech he blamed the government for maladministration, the crippling of industry, the restriction of development and the creation of financial stringency and unemployment because of legislative measures.[1]

Petersen's defection came at a crucial time for the Government as at the time there was a serious outbreak of influenza leaving the Government with a one-seat majority. Subsequently, Premier Theodore ordered two of the ALP's strongest members to bring a very sick Labor member into the chamber on a stretcher and transport him across from one side of the House to the other during the remaining divisions. He also introduced proxy voting whereby an ill, absent member's vote could be counted.[1]

From 1929 until 1932 Petersen, by now a member of the governing Country and Progressive National Party, was the Home Secretary.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former Members. Parliament of Queensland. 2015. 29 March 2016.
  2. https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search;jsessionid=6EAA7C8A9A39650A1CED4927D1CDD656?0 Family History Search
  3. https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/family-history-research/ Family history research
  4. News: Family Notices . . 35,993 . New South Wales, Australia . 1 May 1953 . 29 March 2016 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: SUMMARY OF THE VOTING. . . 17,894 . Queensland, Australia . 24 May 1915 . 29 March 2016 . 6 . National Library of Australia.