Background
Hawthorn was born in October 1859 at Hobart Town, Tasmania, to George Hawthorn, shipmaster, and his wife Isabella Marie Louise (née Steele).
Hawthorn was born in October 1859 at Hobart Town, Tasmania, to George Hawthorn, shipmaster, and his wife Isabella Marie Louise (née Steele).
The firm was later to become Hawthorn & Byram in 1900, Hawthorn & Lightoller in 1916, and A. G. C. Hawthorn & Company in 1931. Hawthorn was elected to the Ithaca Shire Council in 1899, and rose to be president in 1901. From 1901 until 1904 he was also an executive of the Local Authorities" Association of Queensland.
At the 1902 Queensland elections, Hawthorn, representing the Ministerialists, contested the seat of Enoggera, soundly defeating the sitting Labour member, Matthew Reid.
During his time as member, Hawthorn was twice Home Secretary, for eight months in 1907 and for four months in 1908. On 29 October 1908, Hawthorn was appointed Treasurer of Queensland, remaining in the role until his resignation from the Legislative Assembly on 7 February 1911.
Four days after his resignation, Hawthorn was appointed to the Legislative Council, but resigned on 23 March 1912 to unsuccessfully contest the seat of Ithaca at the 1912 Queensland state election where he was defeated by the Labor candidate, John Gilday. Three months later, he was once again appointed to the Council, this time remaining there till it was abolished in March 1922.
