George Thorn

George Thorn (senior) (11 April 1806 – 28 April 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. 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.

His parliamentary career, although brief, was nevertheless productive. He was a consistent and earnest advocate of people's rights and fought with an earnestness and consistency for what he considered just and right. While he was not eloquent, he did not try the patience of the Legislative Assembly with long-winded harangues nor pretended sincerity. He sought to eradicate evil when he saw it, and he denounced it with a bluntness which may probably have given offence to some, but which wes well received by the community. Among those in the first parliament, he was described as a "noble exception" who tried to achieve "the greatest good for the greatest number" and that he never sacrificed his principles for either friend or foe.