John Alexander Cockburn

18th Premier of South Australia

Born in Scotland in 1850, John Alexander Cockburn migrated to South Australia in 1867. His political career started in 1884 when he won the seat of Burra in the House of Assembly. He later served as premier from 1889 to 1890. Cockburn advocated for Federation and supported a more democratic constitution. He represented South Australia in all the Australasian Federation Conventions. Resigning from South Australian politics in 1898, Cockburn moved to London. He remained there until his death in 1929.