James Byrnes (Australian politician)
James Byrnes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Secretary for Public Works | |
| In office 22 January 1866 – 26 October 1868 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Smart |
| Succeeded by | John Sutherland |
| In office 16 December 1870 – 13 May 1872 | |
| Preceded by | John Sutherland |
| Succeeded by | John Sutherland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 January 1806 Parramatta, New South Wales |
James Byrnes (15 January 1806 – 17 September 1886) was an Australian politician. He was an elected member of the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1851 and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for two periods totalling ten years between 1857 and 1872. He held the position of Secretary for Public Works on two occasions between 1866 and 1872.[1]
Biography
Early life
James Byrnes was born on 15 January 1806 in Edgeworthstown, county Longford, Ireland. His parents were James Byrnes and Frances (née Moorhouse), from a Protestant Anglo-Irish family. He migrated to Sydney with his family when Byrnes was about two years-old.[2] His father served with the New South Wales Corps (often referred to as the Rum Corps) and with other regiments garrisoned in New South Wales. Byrnes had little formal education served an apprenticeship to a joiner and builder, and pursued that occupation for a number of years. Together with his younger brother William he invested in steam-powered cotton, wool and flour mills and pioneered steam ferry transport on the Parramatta River. He later invested in a number of colonial banks and insurance companies. Byrnes was a leading Methodist layman and was involved with a number of charities in Parramatta including the District Hospital and the Benevolent Society.[3][2]
Colonial Parliament
Prior to the establishment of responsible self-government, Byrnes was elected to the semi-elected
At the
Subsequent attempts to re-gain public office were unsuccessful.[1][3]
Family
Byrnes married Ruth Barber in 1826 and together they had five sons and a daughter. He remarried in 1852 to Ann Harris and they had a daughter.[3] His youngest son, Charles, took over the woollen mill and was also a member of the Legislative Assembly as the member for Parramatta at various times between 1874 and 1882.[6] His brother William was a member of the Legislative Council between 1858 and 1891.[7]
Career after politics
In 1875 Byrnes was appointed to the office of Government Valuator of resumed lands required for railway purposes.[8] He remained in that position until his death in 1886.[9]
James Byrnes died at his residence in Macquarie-street, Parramatta, on 17 September 1886. Prior to his demise he had been confined to his bed for about nine weeks, suffering from heart disease “and other disorders”.[9]
References
- ^ a b "Mr James Byrnes (1806-1886)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ a b c The Hon. James Byrnes, Illustrated Sydney News, 16 August 1867, page 14.
- ^ OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "Parramatta". The Empire. 18 February 1862. p. 4. Retrieved 8 May 2018 – via Trove.
- ^ Mennell, Philip (1892). . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
- ^ "Mr Charles Byrnes (1835-1917)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ "Mr William Byrnes (1809-1891)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- ^ Mr. James Byrnes, Cumberland Mercury (Parramatta), 28 August 1875, page 2.
- ^ a b Death of the Hon. James Byrnes, Sydney Morning Herald, 18 September 1886, page 9.
