James Dickson (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
James Dickson was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1857 until his death.
and also accrued significant pastoral interests.
which was convened after the establishment of responsible self-government in 1856. He was elected for the two-member seat of Northumberland Boroughs
at a by-election in November 1857 which was caused by the death of the incumbent member, George Nichols
. Dickson retained the seat, unopposed, at the 1858 colonial election but the electorate was abolished prior to the next election in 1859. At that election, Dickson was an unsuccessful candidate in the seats of East Maitland
and Patrick's Plains
. He re-entered parliament as the member for East Maitland following a 1859 by-election caused by the resignation of the incumbent Joseph Chambers who had accepted a position as Crown Prosecutor in the Western Districts of New South Wales. Dickson retained this seat until his death in 1863.He did not attain ministerial or parliamentary office.
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...
from 1857 until his death.
Early life
Dickson was born in Scotland and was the son of a farmer. After an elementary education he trained as a tailor and came to Australia as an assisted immigrant in 1838. On arrival he established a successful general store in MaitlandMaitland, New South Wales
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...
and also accrued significant pastoral interests.
State Parliament
Dickson was a member of the first New South Wales Legislative AssemblyNew 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...
which was convened after the establishment of responsible self-government in 1856. He was elected for the two-member seat of Northumberland Boroughs
Electoral district of Northumberland Boroughs
Northumberland Boroughs was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1856 to 1859, including the towns of Morpeth, East Maitland, and West Maitland, and named after Northumberland County...
at a by-election in November 1857 which was caused by the death of the incumbent member, George Nichols
George Nichols (Australian politician)
George Nichols was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1848 and 1856. He was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for one term from 1856 until his death.-Early life:Nichols was the son of Issac Nichols a former convict...
. Dickson retained the seat, unopposed, at the 1858 colonial election but the electorate was abolished prior to the next election in 1859. At that election, Dickson was an unsuccessful candidate in the seats of East Maitland
Electoral district of East Maitland
East Maitland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1859 to 1904.-Members for East Maitland:...
and Patrick's Plains
Electoral district of Patrick's Plains
Patrick's Plains was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales created in 1859 and named after an old name for the Singleton area. In 1894, it was replaced by Singleton.-Members for Patrick's Plains:...
. He re-entered parliament as the member for East Maitland following a 1859 by-election caused by the resignation of the incumbent Joseph Chambers who had accepted a position as Crown Prosecutor in the Western Districts of New South Wales. Dickson retained this seat until his death in 1863.He did not attain ministerial or parliamentary office.