MOREHEAD, BOYD DUNLOP (1843-1905), premier of Queensland,

was born at Sydney on 24 August 1843. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School and matriculated at Sydney university. He, however, did not continue at the university but joined the Bank of New South Wales, where he obtained some training in finance. He then entered the service of the Australian Investments Company and as a station inspector visited Queensland in 1866. He remained in Queensland and in 1871 was elected a member of the legislative assembly for the Mitchell district. In 1873 he founded the well-known firm of B. D. Morehead and Company, general merchants, and stock and station agents, which afterwards became Moreheads Limited. In December 1880 he joined the first McIlwraith (q.v.) government as postmaster-general but resigned in August 1883. When Griffith (q.v.) came into power in November 1883, Morehead was appointed leader of the opposition and held this position for some years. McIlwraith became premier again in June 1888 with Morehead as colonial secretary, and when McIlwraith resigned in November, Morehead succeeded him as premier and colonial secretary. He resigned in August 1890 and made a long visit to Europe. In 1893 he declined the agent-generalship, and in 1896 entered the legislative council and remained a member until his death on 30 October 1905. He was married twice and was survived by several children.

Morehead was a kindly, somewhat unconventional, witty and humorous man. He had scarcely sufficient force of character to be an outstanding leader, but he was a prominent member of the Queensland parliament for a period of over 30 years.