Thomas Bouchard (politician)

Thomas William Bouchard (8 October 1865 – 2 November 1943) was a solicitor and a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.[1]

Thomas Bouchard
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Brisbane South
In office
27 August 1904 – 5 February 1908
Preceded byAlec Lamont
Succeeded byPeter Airey
In office
2 October 1909 – 22 May 1915
Preceded byJohn Huxham
Succeeded byEdgar Free
Personal details
Born
Thomas William Bouchard

(1865-10-08)8 October 1865
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Died2 November 1943(1943-11-02) (aged 78)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political partyMinisterialist
SpouseJessie Margaret Hill (m.1891 d.1937)
OccupationSolicitor

Early life edit

Bouchard was born in Brisbane, Queensland,[1] to parents Josiah Bouchard and his wife Eliza Ann (née Arrowsmith).[2] After attending South Brisbane State School and also being privately educated,[1] he became an articled clerk at age 14, working for Peter MacPherson from 1879 until 1892.[3] Admitted as a solicitor in 1892, he soon after went into partnership with F. Holland to form Bouchard & Holland, Solicitors.[3]

Political career edit

First entering politics as an alderman on the South Brisbane Municipal Council,[1] Bouchard entered Queensland Parliament as a Ministerialist at the 1904 state election, winning the seat of Brisbane South.[4] He held the seat for four years but was defeated in a close-run contest in 1908.[5]

The following year, the people of Queensland went to the polls for the third successive year, and Bouchard won back his seat of South Brisbane[6] and held it until he declined to stand at the 1915 state election. During his public career he was also the Commissioner for the South Brisbane Technical College and School of Arts.[1]

Sporting career edit

Bouchard was a keen lawn bowls player, being one of Queensland's best known champions and an interstate representative.[3] He was president of the South Brisbane Bowling Club in 1906–1907[7] and went on to be president of the Queensland Bowling Association.[3]

Personal life edit

In 1891, Bouchard married Jessie Margaret Hill (died 1937)[2] in Brisbane and together had one daughter.[1] Reinhold died in Brisbane in November 1943.[1] His funeral moved from his former residence at Beaconsfield St, Highgate Hill, to the Mount Thompson Crematorium.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b Family history researchQueensland Government births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d "T. W. Bouchard Solicitor, Dies". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 3 November 1943. p. 3. Retrieved 26 May 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "BRISBANE SOUTH". The Brisbane Courier. 29 August 1904. p. 5. Retrieved 26 May 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "SYNOPSIS OF THE POLLING". The Brisbane Courier. 7 February 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 26 May 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "RESULTS AND COMPARISONS". The Brisbane Courier. 4 October 1909. p. 5. Retrieved 26 May 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ T. W. BouchardState Library of Queensland. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Family Notices". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane. 3 November 1943. p. 6. Retrieved 26 May 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Member for Brisbane South
1904–1908
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member for Brisbane South
1909–1915
Succeeded by