James Kidgell

Summary

James Gawthorne Kidgell (8 April 1837 – 20 May 1915) was an Australian politician in Queensland. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for one term.[1]

Early life edit

Kidgell was born 8 April 1837 in Polesworth, Warwickshire, England. His parents were Henry Kidgell and Christina (née Gawthorne).[2][3] He was educated at The Congregational College, Lewisham, Kent.[3]

He moved to Australia in 1852.[3]

Career edit

Kidgell worked as a draper in Castlemaine, Victoria from 1853 to 1877.[3]

He was employed as the Town Clerk of Borough of Gympie in 1880.[3] Later he became the editor of The Gympie Times newspaper (the proprietor being Jacob Stumm).[4]

He was also the editor of the Gundagai Times for some years.[4] Subsequently, he moved to Melbourne where he established an advertising agency and was the printer of "The Woman", a paper for the Women's League.

Politics edit

Kidgell was the Member of the Queensland Parliament for Gympie from March 1877 to November 1878.[1]

Personal edit

He married Anne Marie Quentin in 1871 and the couple had five sons and three daughters.[3] His niece, Ada Augusta Kidgell, was also a journalist and novelist and married William Arthur Holman, Premier of New South Wales.[4]

He retired from business about 1911 and settled in Myrrhee, Victoria.[4]

Kidgell died 20 May 1915 in Myrnnhee.[3] He was buried in Wangaratta cemetery.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Part 2.15 – Alphabetical Register of Members of the Legislative Assembly 1860–2017 and the Legislative Council 1860–1922" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2015–2017: The 55th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ Waterson, D.B. (2001). Register of Queensland Parliament 1860-1929. Casket Publications.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Kidgell, James Gawthorne". Queensland Parliament. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e "DEATH OF OLD COLONIST". Wangaratta Chronicle. No. 2039. Victoria, Australia. 22 May 1915. p. 3 (Mornings). Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.