James Byrnes (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
James Byrnes 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 totaling 10 years between 1857 and 1872. He held the position of Secretary for Public Works on two occasions between 1866 and 1872.
. 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
in 1851. He represented the electorate of Cumberland County but resigned after 15 months. Following the granting of self-government, Byrnes was elected to the first Legislative Assembly as one of the three members for the seat of Cumberland (South Riding)
. Although failing to be elected at the general election of 1856, he was subsequently successful at an 1857 by-election caused by the retirement of William Manning
due to ill-health. At the 1858 colonial election he was elected to the two-member seat of Parramatta
. He was subsequently the first member elected to the seat at the 1859 election but at the 1860 election he gained second place. While still successful, Byrnes took offence at being placed second and used his declaration of poll speech to upbraid his supporters. He resigned from the seat before parliament met. Following his resignation, he was nominated to a life appointment in the Legislative Council by the government of Charles Cowper
but resigned before taking his seat. At the next election in 1864-5 Byrnes was again the first member elected for Parramatta and he retained the seat until he was defeated at the 1872 election. Subsequent attempts to re-gain public office were unsuccessful.
.
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
in 1851 and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
for two periods totaling 10 years between 1857 and 1872. He held the position of Secretary for Public Works on two occasions between 1866 and 1872.
Early life
Byrnes was born into a protestant Anglo-Irish family which migrated to Sydney when Byrnes was 2 years old. His father served with the Rum corps and with other regiments garrisoned in NSW. Byrnes had little formal education but became a successful carpenter and builder. Together with his brother William,(a member of the Legislative Council between 1858 and 1891), he invested in steam-powered cotton, wool and flour mills and pioneered steam ferry transport on the Parramatta RiverParramatta River
The Parramatta River is a waterway in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Parramatta River is the main tributary of Sydney Harbour, a branch of Port Jackson, along with the smaller Lane Cove and Duck Rivers....
. 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
State Parliament
Prior to the establishment of responsible self-government, Byrnes was elected to the semi-elected New South Wales Legislative CouncilNew South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
in 1851. He represented the electorate of Cumberland County but resigned after 15 months. Following the granting of self-government, Byrnes was elected to the first Legislative Assembly as one of the three members for the seat of Cumberland (South Riding)
Electoral district of Cumberland (South Riding)
Cumberland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1856 to 1859, in the rural part of Cumberland County, which includes Sydney...
. Although failing to be elected at the general election of 1856, he was subsequently successful at an 1857 by-election caused by the retirement of William Manning
William Montagu Manning
Sir William Montagu Manning KCMG LLD was an English-born Australian politician, judge and University of Sydney chancellor.-Early life:...
due to ill-health. At the 1858 colonial election he was elected to the two-member seat of Parramatta
Electoral district of Parramatta
Parramatta is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Geoff Lee of the Liberal Party of Australia....
. He was subsequently the first member elected to the seat at the 1859 election but at the 1860 election he gained second place. While still successful, Byrnes took offence at being placed second and used his declaration of poll speech to upbraid his supporters. He resigned from the seat before parliament met. Following his resignation, he was nominated to a life appointment in the Legislative Council by the government of Charles Cowper
Charles Cowper
Sir Charles Cowper, KCMG was an Australian politician and the Premier of New South Wales on five different occasions from 1856 to 1870....
but resigned before taking his seat. At the next election in 1864-5 Byrnes was again the first member elected for Parramatta and he retained the seat until he was defeated at the 1872 election. Subsequent attempts to re-gain public office were unsuccessful.
Government
Byrnes served as Secretary of Public Works in the second and third ministries of James MartinJames Martin (Australian politician)
Sir James Martin, KCB, QC was three times Premier of New South Wales, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 1873 to 1886.-Early career:...
.