 Mr. Dobson was Attorney-General in the Fysh Ministry from 13 August 1877 (when he was sworn of the Executive Council), to 20 December 1878, and was Speaker of the Tasmanian Legislative Assembly from 1 July 1885 to 29 May 1887, when he resigned his seat of Glenorchy on accepting appointment as the Solicitor-General.Dobson was leader of the opposition 1883 to 1885 and Speaker from July 1885 to May 1887.In April 1901 Dobson became Agent-General for Tasmania in London, a position he held until his death from drowning in the English Channel on 5 December 1908.