DICK'SON, Sir .TAMES ROBERT (18321 901). An Australian statesman. He was born at Plym outh. England. and was educated in Glasgow, Scotland, where he began his business career in a bank. He emigrated to Australia in 1854 and settled first in Victoria, whence he removed to New South Wales. and afterwards. in IS62. to Queensland. His political career began in 1872, when he was elected to the Queensland House of Assembly. in 1876 he entered the Cabinet of Arthur Macalester. as :Minister of Public Works. He held the position of Treasurer of the colony in various cabinets from 1876 to 1379. and 1883 to 1SS7. From 1889 to 1892 he lived in Europe, returning in the latter year to conduct a cam paign in favor of introducing Polynesian labor in the Queensland sugar plantations. In ISO7 he entered the Nelson Cabinet as Secretary for Rail ways. In March. 1 SOS. lie became Secretary for Home Affairs, and in October following be sue recited Thomas .T. 'Byrnes as Premier. in this position, in the face of a hostile majority in the Assembly, he threw himself into the fight for an Australian Commonwealth. secured the passage of a measure providing for the submission of the nuestion to the people, and after an active cam pai,D1 obtained a good majority at the polls in favor of federation. He resigned the Premiership
in November. 1899. and early in 1900 visited Lon don a: a delegate from Queensland to tliseuss the affairs of the proposed Commonwealth. On his return to Australia he was selected Minister of Defen-e of the first Federal Cabinet, but died -utl &lily ten days after the inauguration of the new Government.
DICKSON, (1,1e-611. Baron OscAn VON ( ls23 97 ). A Swedish merchant noted for his munifi cent support of the exploring enterprises of Baron Nordenskjilid. He was born at Giiteborg, of Scottish ancestry, and was long a member of the firm or Dickson & Co. in Iti)teborg and Lon don. Ile was a member of many learned societies both in London and abroad, and gave liberal pecuniary support to North Pole enterprises, par ticularly those undertaken by. Baron Norden skjiild after 1SOS. In recognition of his distin guished public. services, he was ennobled in 1830. the title of 'Baron' being conferred on him in 1SS5. Dickson Ila rbor and various other points in the Arctic regions have been named in his honor.