Charles Midson

Charles Midson
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Brisbane South
In office 6 May 1893 – 21 April 1896
Preceded by	Arthur Morry
Succeeded by	William Stephens
Personal details
Born	Charles William Midson 30 August 1837 London, England
Died	8 April 1903 (aged 65) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	South Brisbane Cemetery
Nationality	English Australian
Political party	Ministerialist
Spouse(s)	Mary Hurley Moran (m.1864 d.1910)
Occupation	Builder
Religion	Roman Catholic

Charles William Midson (30 August 1837 – 8 April 1903) was a builder and a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.^[1]

Early years

Midson was born in London, England, to parents James Midson and his wife Elizabeth Catherine (née Donnelly). After beginning his working career as an apprentice builder with his father in England he arrived in Victoria in 1853 where he worked the goldfields in Indigo, Ovens and Snowy River. He returned to England in 1855 but was back in Australia the following year working as a builder in New South Wales before travelling to Brisbane in 1860^[1] where he won large government and commercial building contracts including the Port Office Hotel,^[2] Hunter's Boot Factory, White's Hotel, and the Courier Building.^[3] Midson later became a director of the Imperial Deposit Bank and Watertown Brick Company and at the time of his death owned the Woolloongabba Glassworks.^[1]

Political career

Midson was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, holding the seat of South Brisbane from 1893^[1] until his defeat at the 1896 election.^[4] He had also served as an alderman on the South Brisbane Municipal Council.^[1]

Personal life

In 1864 Midson married Mary Hurley Moran (died 1910)^[5] and together had four sons and three daughters.^[1] Midson died of appendicitis in April 1903 and as per his request a private funeral was held, moving from his former residence in Grey Street, South Brisbane, to the South Brisbane Cemetery.^[3][6]

References

1. "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
2. "Port Office Hotel (entry 600098)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
3. "DEATH OF MR. CHARLES MIDSON.". The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 10 April 1903. p. 5. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
4. "GENERAL ELECTION.". The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) (Qld.: National Library of Australia). 23 March 1896. p. 5. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
5. Family history research — Queensland Government births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
6. Midson Charles W — Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search. Retrieved 24 May 2015.