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George Thorn (senior) (1806–1876) was a politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly. He was known as the ''"father of Ipswich"'' for his contributions to establishing that town. ==Early life== George Thorn was born on 11 April 1806 near Stockbridge, Hampshire, England, the son of farmer Simon Thorn and his wife Elizabeth. Thorn enlisted in the 4th (Queen's own) Regiment, and after serving for some time in England and elsewhere, he emigrated to New South Wales, being at that time a non-commissioned offocer in his regiment. He first settled in Sydney, and having renounced his calling as a soldier, he entered the Town Survey Department where he formed the acquaintance of Sir Richard Bourke, the then Governor of New South Wales, and was present with Bourke at the first survey of Melbourne in March 1837. In June 1837, his regiment left for India, but Thorn decided to remain in Sydney, marrying the seventeen-year-old Jane Handcock on 2 November 1837.〔 The couple had ten children: * George Henry (1838–1905), Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and Premier of Queensland * Henry (1840–1880), Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly * Jane (1843–1917) * Charles (1844–1877) * John (1847–1896), Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly * Joseph A. (1850–1883) * William (1852–1935), Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly * Sarah Elizabeth (1855–) * Albert Samuel Thorn (1857–1898) * Ida Australia Thorn (1859–) Four of his sons entered Queensland Parliament. His daughter Jane married George Harris, a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, and their daughter Eveline married Richard Gardiner Casey, also a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly. The son of Eveline and Richard Casey was Richard Gavin Gardiner Casey, Governor-General of Australia.〔 Having quit the army in 1837, Thorn joined the Commissariat, and whilst holding office in the latter he was, in 1838, transferred to Moreton Bay. On arrival he immediately took up his residence in Ipswich, having been placed in charge of all the Government stock-cattle, sheep, and horses then located in the surrounding neighbourhood. He also had the supervision of a large area of land, under cultivation by the Government, at a place then designated the ''"Ploughed Station"'', but later known as ''"The Grange"'' and the racecourse. Here were successfully cultivated large fields of wheat (the first ever grown in the Queensland colony). Thorn faithfully discharged the duties of his office to the satisfaction of his superiors. During his whole career as Government superintendent, his subordinates (often convicts with wild and ungovernable temperaments) held him in high esteem. Thorn continued to hold the office of superintendent until Queensland became a free settlement, when he retired.〔 Thorn was offered a grant of land in the vicinity of Ipswich by Governor Bourke, which he refused, thinking that such a primitive and apparently worthless locality would never be any thing more than it then was, and that consequently the land would never be of any value. He subsequently built an hotel at the corner of Brisbane and East Streets, which was called the ''"Queen's Arms"'' (later the Claredon Hotel, destroyed by fire in 1874). After conducting this hotel for a few years, he turned his attention to the business of general storekeeper, building and opening a store in East Street.〔 In 1844, Thorn became owner of Normanby pastoral station, a magnificent tract of country about twenty miles from Ipswich (later managed by his sons John and Charles Thorn). By steady and energetic perseverance Thorn succeeded in raising this station to a high standard, making it one of the most valuable pastoral properties in West Moreton. Here Thorn spent some of the best days of his life.〔 Prior to the separation of Queensland in 1859, Thorn and his family (all of whom are natives of Australia) paid a visit to England, and returned to the colony in the same steamer which brought out Sir George Bowen, the first Governor of Queensland.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「George Thorn (senior)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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