James McGowan (politician)

James McGowan
James McGowan in 1908
16th Minister of Justice
In office
23 January 1900 – 6 January 1909
Prime Minister Richard Seddon
William Hall-Jones
Joseph Ward
Preceded by Thomas Thompson
Succeeded by John Findlay
2nd Minister of Police
In office
23 January 1900 – 6 January 1909
Prime Minister Richard Seddon
William Hall-Jones
Joseph Ward
Preceded by Thomas Thompson
Succeeded by John Findlay
3rd Minister of Industries and Commerce
In office
23 November 1906 – 6 January 1909
Prime Minister Joseph Ward
Preceded by Joseph Ward
Succeeded by Thomas Mackenzie
18th Minister of Immigration
In office
6 August 1906 – 9 January 1909
Prime Minister Joseph Ward
Preceded by Charles H. Mills
Succeeded by George Fowlds
9th Minister of Mines
In office
21 December 1899 – 6 January 1909
Prime Minister Richard Seddon
William Hall-Jones
Joseph Ward
Preceded by Alfred Cadman
Succeeded by Roderick McKenzie
New Zealand Legislative Councillor
In office
6 January 1909 – 7 May 1912
Nominated by Joseph Ward
Appointed by The Lord Plunket
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Thames
In office
26 July 1893 – 6 January 1909
Preceded by Alfred Cadman
Succeeded by Edmund Taylor
Personal details
Born 1841
Maxwell's Court, County Down, Ireland
Died 7 May 1912 (aged 70–71)
Political party Liberal Party

James McGowan (1841 – 7 May 1912) was a New Zealand politician of the Liberal Party.

Biography

McGowan was born in Maxwell's Court, County Down, Ireland, in 1841. He emigrated to Auckland in 1865 on the ship Liverpool. After five years, he moved to Thames, where he had a large store and a bakery.

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate Party
1893 11th Thames Liberal
1893–1896 12th Thames Liberal
1896–1899 13th Thames Liberal
1899–1902 14th Thames Liberal
1902–1905 15th Thames Liberal
1905–1908 16th Thames Liberal
1908–1909 17th Thames Liberal

He was Mayor of Thames in 1889, and in 1892–1893.

He represented the Thames electorate in Parliament from an 1893 by-election. The by-election was caused after the resignation of Liberal Party MP Alfred Cadman. The Liberals selected the incumbent Mayor of Thames, James McGowan as their candidate for Cadman's seat. After a large public gathering, it was decided not to run another candidate against McGowan in light of a general election being only months away, resulting in McGowan being elected unopposed.

From 1896 until 1900 he was the Liberal Party's junior whip.

He was Minister of Justice and Minister of Mines from 23 January 1900 in the Liberal Government. From 6 August 1906, he was Minister of Immigration. From 23 November 1906, he was Minister of Industries and Commerce. He held all ministerial posts until his resignation from the lower house.

He resigned on 6 January 1909 so that he could be appointed to the Legislative Council on that same day, where he served until his death.