James Robert Wilshire
Encyclopedia
James Wilshire was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
between 1855 and 1856 and again from 1858 until his death. He was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for one term between 1856 and 1857.
and a strident opponent of the reintroduction of transportation
. He was a generous supporter of the Benevolent Society
.
. Wilshire was defeated at the next election in 1858. He did not hold a ministerial or parliamentary position. Following his defeat he accepted a five year appointment to the Legislative Council which he retained until his death.
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...
between 1855 and 1856 and again from 1858 until his death. He was also 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 one term between 1856 and 1857.
Early life
Wilshire was the son of a successful Sydney tanner. He was educated privately and worked in his father's tannery which he inherited in 1840. After 1842 he was an alderman of Sydney City Council and served as Mayor in 1843-44. Wilshire was a political supporter of John Dunmore LangJohn Dunmore Lang
John Dunmore Lang , Australian Presbyterian clergyman, writer, politician and activist, was the first prominent advocate of an independent Australian nation and of Australian republicanism.-Background and Family:...
and a strident opponent of the reintroduction of transportation
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
. He was a generous supporter of the Benevolent Society
Benevolent Society
The Benevolent Society, founded by Edward Smith Hall in 1813, is Australia's first charity. It is an independent, non-religious, non-profit organisation which aims to help people overcome the barriers preventing them from participating fully in society...
.
State Parliament
In 1855, prior to the establishment of responsible self-government, Wilshire was elected to the semi-elected Legislative Council. He represented the electorate of Sydney City until the granting of responsible self-government in 1856. Subsequently, at the first election under the new constitution he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as one of the four members for the same seatElectoral district of Sydney City
Sydney City was a former electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1856 to 1859, when it was split into the electorates of East Sydney and West Sydney.-Members for Sydney City:...
. Wilshire was defeated at the next election in 1858. He did not hold a ministerial or parliamentary position. Following his defeat he accepted a five year appointment to the Legislative Council which he retained until his death.