Jacob Low (squatter-legislator)

Jacob Low was an articled clerk turned pastoralist who served as a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly in Australia.

Background

Born in 1807 in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Low became an articled clerk. In 1846, as a squatter he took up Welltown Station near Goondiwindi, and later acquired Glenearn Cattle Station in Maranoa.

Assembly

He represented the seat of Balonne from 25 May 1874 to 14 September 1883, when he died in office. He declared no party affiliation. During debates, Low said that while he had a reputation for protecting Aboriginal Australians from settler violence in the region, he had 'killed many blacks himself', but went on to assert that settlers' private vigilante raids on aboriginal encampments were responsible for 'more bloodshed' than the Native Police who were being blamed.
Low died 14 September 1883 while up for re-election, and was buried in Toowong Cemetery.