David Bowman

David Bowman (24 August 1860 – 25 February 1916) was a Labor politician in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland and Queensland Leader of the Opposition from 1908 to 1912. Early life Bowman was born in Bendigo, Victoria on 4 August 1860. He was son of Archibald Bowman, a miner and Isabella Bowman (née Spence) both of whom were born in Scotland. Trained as a bootmaker in Victoria, Bowman moved north to Queensland in 1888. The following year, Bowman became the president of the Brisbane District Council of the Australian Labour Federation (ALF). In 1891, as an employee of the ALF, Bowman was responsible for organizing shearers and bushworkers during the pastoral strike. In 1892, he was elected as vice-president and the following year he became the president of the ALF. Politics Bowman's first attempt at entering politics was at the 1893 colonial election in the seat South Brisbane, losing out to Harry Turley and Charles Midson in the two member electorate. At the 1899 election, Bowman ran again, this time in the rural south western seat of Warrego. Ministerialist William Hood had been returned by a one-vote majority. Bowman, the sole opponent, filed a petition against Hood's return and on 21 November 1899, the election was declared void. Bowman won the resulting by-election on 16 December 1899 with a majority of 44 votes. At the following election in 1902, Bowman lost in his seat to Ministerialist, Patrick Leahy. After the defeat, he returned to Brisbane where he opened a newsagency at New Farm. Bowman stood again at the 1904 election in the north eastern Brisbane seat of Fortitude Valley where he was victorious. He was returned as the Member for Fortitude Valley in the next six elections, holding the seat until his death.