James Byrnes (Australian politician)

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 10 years between 1857 and 1872. He held the position of Secretary for Public Works on two occasions between 1866 and 1872.[1]

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	(1806-01-15)15 January 1806 Edgeworthstown, Ireland
Died	17 September 1886(1886-09-17) (aged 80) Parramatta, New South Wales

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 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.[2]

Colonial Parliament

Prior to the establishment of responsible self-government, Byrnes was elected to the semi-elected New South Wales Legislative Council in March 1850. He represented the electorate of County Cumberland 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 behind a newcomer John Lackey. While still successful, Byrnes took offence at being placed second and used his declaration of poll speech to upbraid the voters. He resigned from the seat before parliament met. Following his resignation, in 1861 he was one of 21 men that Premier Charles Cowper appointed in an attempt to stack the Legislative Council, however there was a mass walk-out from sitting members which meant that the council was unable to sit before it was prorogued and Byrnes and the others were unable to take their seat. At the next election in 1864–65 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.[1][2]

Government

Byrnes served as Secretary of Public Works in the second and third ministries of James Martin.[2]

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.[2] 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.[3] His brother William was a member of the Legislative Council between 1858 and 1891.[4]

References

1. "Mr James Byrnes (1806-1886)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
2. Walsh, G P (1969). "Byrnes, James (1806–1886)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 20 April 2019 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
3. "Mr Charles Byrnes (1835-1917)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
4. "Mr William Byrnes (1809-1891)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 April 2019.

 

New South Wales Legislative Council
Preceded by Charles Cowper	Member for County of Cumberland Mar 1850 – Jun 1851 With: Robert Fitzgerald	Succeeded by John Darvall
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by William Manning	Member for Cumberland (South Riding) Jun 1857 – Dec 1857 With: Stuart Donaldson	Succeeded by Edward Flood
Preceded by Henry Parker	Member for Parramatta Jan 1858 – Mar 1861 With: George Oakes/John Lackey	Succeeded by Arthur Holroyd
Preceded by Arthur Holroyd	Member for Parramatta Nov 1864 – Feb 1872 With: James Farnell	Succeeded by Hugh Taylor
Political offices
Preceded by Thomas Smart	Secretary for Public Works Jan 1866 – Oct 1868	Succeeded by John Sutherland
Preceded by John Sutherland	Secretary for Public Works Dec 1870 – May 1872	Succeeded by John Sutherland