John Huxham

Background

Huxham was born in Ivybridge, Devon, to parents Simon Huxham, labourer, and his wife Agnes (née Chapman). He was born Samuel John Chapman Huxham but changed his name to John Saunders Huxham later in life.

Career

Educated in London and beforehand at Ivybridge Dame School which he later described as "harsh and desolate" where punishment consisted of "confinement in a dark cellar", he left school at age 12 to become a merchant seaman which on occasions took him to Australia. In 1879 he settled in Sydney, and found work as a bookseller"s accountant before heading to Townsville in 1889 to work for the general merchants, Alfred Shaw & Company In April 1893, he transferred to Brisbane to work in Shaw"s Brisbane office.

Representing the Labour Party, Huxham was a candidate for the seat of Brisbane South at the 1907 Queensland state election but was defeated by Opposition candidates William Stephens and Thomas Bouchard.

1908 saw the people of Queensland back at the polls. Huxham once again contested Brisbane South, this time successfully.

He held the seat until 1909 when he was defeated at that year"s state elections. At the 1912 state election, Huxham contested the newly created seat of Buranda where he once again found himself opposed by William Stephens.

During his time in parliament he was Minister without Office in 1915-1916, Home Secretary in 1916-1919, and Secretary for Public Instruction in 1919-1924.

Having taught at Sydney"s "ragged schools" in the 1880s made Huxham a strong advocate for the underprivileged or handicapped. In parliament, Huxham would sit quietly for long periods, "legs crossed, head bent slightly forward, arms folded". Though this may have been seen as a sign of weakness, he stood side by side with the unionists in the Brisbane general strike in 1912 and as a consequence, he claimed his actions lost him friends and business.

In 1924, Huxham was appointed Agent-General for Queensland in London, holding the role until 1929.

Achievements

• Huxham defeated him by 2,210 votes to 1,747 to win the seat, holding it until 1924 when he retired from politics.

Politics

He was a moderate and urged cooperation between the political parties for "the good of the people".