Arthur John CARTER

September 27, 1847 (age 70)

Australia, Australian Consul to Norway

Following university, Carter moved briefly to France before returning to become an underwriter at Lloyd"s of London in 1863. In January 1871, Carter emigrated to Brisbane, Australia by the Light Brigade. Soon after his arrival in Brisbane, Carter joined the merchants J. & G. Harris where he remained until 1876. He ‘became Brisbane manager of the Adelaide Milling & Mercantile Company, and held directorships in Millaquin Sugar Company, John Hicks & Company, Dath Henderson & Company and J. Leutenegger Limited, and was chairman of directors of East. Rich & Company Limited and of Queensland Trustees Limited. He was also agent for several overseas insurance companies’. Following in the footsteps of the Queensland politician George Harris, Carter became Vice-Consul for Sweden and Norway, consular agent for France in 1902 and Consul for Norway in 1906. He was ‘President of the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce for five terms (1898-1906), and was active in the Immigration League of Queensland, the Committee of Fire Underwriters, the Marine Board, the Brisbane and South Brisbane fire brigades, the General Hospital, the Technical College, and the State committee for the selection of Rhodes Scholars’. Increasingly political, Carter became involved in many issues ‘writing frequently to the press on defence, port facilities and bimetallism and was an energetic and effective lobbyist’. Described as ‘portly, urbane and genial, a kindly employer, popular and respected’, Carter unwittingly became the quasi leader of Brisbane"s commercial community. Carter was a ‘liberal, a free trader and one of the few ardent Federationists in Brisbane commerce’. As a leader of the Federation League he visited Sydney for the June 1899 referendum and represented Queensland at the free-trade conference that was held there in February 1900. Carter was subsequently appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council in July 1901 where he spoke rarely but attended regularly. The council amended the bill to remove the monopoly but ‘Carter"s failure to secure a consequential amendment negated the victory’. Following that defeat, Carter only spoke once more in the council, on an insurance bill in December 1916.

Arthur John CARTER

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Background

Carter was born on 27 September 1847 at Street Ives, Huntingdonshire, England, the son of Charles Carter, a Wesleyan minister, and his wife Margaret (née Jarvis).

Education

He was educated at Woodhouse Grove School, Bedford Modern School and King"s College London.

Career

Following university, Carter moved briefly to France before returning to become an underwriter at Lloyd"s of London in 1863. In January 1871, Carter emigrated to Brisbane, Australia by the Light Brigade. Soon after his arrival in Brisbane, Carter joined the merchants J. & G. Harris where he remained until 1876.

He ‘became Brisbane manager of the Adelaide Milling & Mercantile Company, and held directorships in Millaquin Sugar Company, John Hicks & Company, Dath Henderson & Company and J. Leutenegger Limited, and was chairman of directors of East. Rich & Company

Limited and of Queensland Trustees Limited. He was also agent for several overseas insurance companies’.

Following in the footsteps of the Queensland politician George Harris, Carter became Vice-Consul for Sweden and Norway, consular agent for France in 1902 and Consul for Norway in 1906. He was ‘President of the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce for five terms (1898-1906), and was active in the Immigration League of Queensland, the Committee of Fire Underwriters, the Marine Board, the Brisbane and South Brisbane fire brigades, the General Hospital, the Technical College, and the State committee for the selection of Rhodes Scholars’.

Increasingly political, Carter became involved in many issues ‘writing frequently to the press on defence, port facilities and bimetallism and was an energetic and effective lobbyist’.

Described as ‘portly, urbane and genial, a kindly employer, popular and respected’, Carter unwittingly became the quasi leader of Brisbane"s commercial community. Carter was a ‘liberal, a free trader and one of the few ardent Federationists in Brisbane commerce’. As a leader of the Federation League he visited Sydney for the June 1899 referendum and represented Queensland at the free-trade conference that was held there in February 1900.

Carter was subsequently appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council in July 1901 where he spoke rarely but attended regularly.

The council amended the bill to remove the monopoly but ‘Carter"s failure to secure a consequential amendment negated the victory’. Following that defeat, Carter only spoke once more in the council, on an insurance bill in December 1916.

Achievements

Carter was made an officer of the Académie française in 1911 and in 1912 received the Norwegian Order of Street Olav.

Membership

Clubs: Queensland, Johnsonian.

Clubs: Queensland, Johnsonian.

Interests

Fishing, litera ture.

Connections

Father:: Charles
Mother:: Margaret Carter

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