It's a pity, as he was truly remarkable, someone of whom they can be very proud.

His death in October 1914 was a sensation.

He was only 38, and few even knew he was sick.

Solomon was born into a respectable and staunchly Methodist family in Longford.

His father Edward was a clerk, active in the Northern Agricultural Society and very proud of his petunias.

His mother Mary Anne was a Trebilcock from Port Sorell.

The family moved to Longford in 1862, where Albert was their tenth child, born in March 1876.

Young Albert was educated at the Longford State School, then Horton College at Ross and Launceston Grammar.

He was a gifted student, winning a State Exhibition and gaining admission to the University of Melbourne at age 13.

By then he'd already decided on law as a career and was articled to the Launceston legal firm of Law & Weston in 1893 and called to the bar in 1898.

Continuing his studies, he'd gained four degrees from the Universities of Melbourne and Tasmania by 1903.

In August 1903 he married Una Scott (known as Elsie) in Launceston.

By then he'd gone out on his own, partnering with his brother Arthur and establishing offices in Launceston and Ulverstone. They called themselves A & A Solomon, solicitors.

Becoming well known and fascinated by politics, he stood in the 1909 state election for Bass, for the Government Party, coming second out of 13 candidates.

In a remarkable series of events that followed, Premier Evans decided to throw open the leadership for the sake of government unity, despite their election win.

In the subsequent ballot, Sir Elliott Lewis only narrowly defeated Solomon for the premiership, despite Solomon not even having taken his seat in parliament yet.

His qualities and ability were so obvious to everyone that, still not having taken his seat, Solomon was appointed Attorney-General and Minister for Education.

When the unpopular Sir Elliott stepped down for the good of the party three years later, Solomon became (at 36) our youngest premier.

He was a brilliant leader, with good judgement, tact, the confidence of his party and the respect of the opposition, winning a spectacular election victory in 1913.

Unfortunately it quickly fell apart.

First, he lost a member in a by-election. Then another member went rogue and he lost a no-confidence motion, and with it, government.

Exhausted from overwork, he took a break in Queensland before taking up his new role as opposition leader.

Upon returning to his Battery Point residence, he suddenly died.

It was later revealed he'd been suffering for years from TB. When a cut on his hand became infected, on top of exhaustion, his system finally gave out.

It was a great loss to his party, and to Tasmania.