James Walker (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
James Thomas Walker was a banker and politician. He was the son John William Walker of Leith and Elizabeth Waterston of Edinburgh
.
in Queensland
. He was transferred to Townsville in early 1866, and in December 1866 was promoted to Toowoomba as manager. Following failure to get a further promotion, he resigned from the Bank of New South Wales in 1882 to join the Royal Bank of Queensland as its first general manager.
When his cousin Thomas Walker died in 1886, Walker was persuaded to rejoin the Bank of New South Wales so he could look after Thomas' affairs. Thomas had been the President of the Bank from 1868 until his death in 1886. The younger Walker was himself elected to the Board of the Bank in 1888 and remained one until his death in 1923. He was appointed President of the Bank in 1898 but resigned that position to contest the elections for the first Australian Parliament.
for New South Wales as a Free Trade
r and as the first of the six senators. He remained in the Senate until 1913. In 1909, along with the rest of his party, he became a member of the Commonwealth Liberal Party
when the Free Trade Party merged with the Protectionist
s.
, County Mayo
, Ireland
, J.P. and his wife, Emily, the daughter of Major Perceval.
Their children were:
, who was married to Walker's niece, Alice Emily Walker
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
.
Early life
He migrated to Australia as a child in 1844 before returning to Scotland to be educated at the Edinburgh Institution and then King's College, London.Banking career
In 1861, he joined the Bank of New South Wales as a ledger clerk in Sydney, but after a month he was transferred to RockhamptonRockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. He was transferred to Townsville in early 1866, and in December 1866 was promoted to Toowoomba as manager. Following failure to get a further promotion, he resigned from the Bank of New South Wales in 1882 to join the Royal Bank of Queensland as its first general manager.
When his cousin Thomas Walker died in 1886, Walker was persuaded to rejoin the Bank of New South Wales so he could look after Thomas' affairs. Thomas had been the President of the Bank from 1868 until his death in 1886. The younger Walker was himself elected to the Board of the Bank in 1888 and remained one until his death in 1923. He was appointed President of the Bank in 1898 but resigned that position to contest the elections for the first Australian Parliament.
Political career
Walker contested the first Australian elections in 1901. He was elected to the Australian SenateAustralian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
for New South Wales as a Free Trade
Free Trade Party
The Free Trade Party which was officially known as the Australian Free Trade and Liberal Association, also referred to as the Revenue Tariff Party in some states and renamed the Anti-Socialist Party in 1906, was an Australian political party, formally organised between 1889 and 1909...
r and as the first of the six senators. He remained in the Senate until 1913. In 1909, along with the rest of his party, he became a member of the Commonwealth Liberal Party
Commonwealth Liberal Party
The Commonwealth Liberal Party was a political movement active in Australia from 1909 to 1916, shortly after federation....
when the Free Trade Party merged with the Protectionist
Protectionist Party
The Protectionist Party was an Australian political party, formally organised from 1889 until 1909, with policies centred on protectionism. It argued that Australia needed protective tariffs to allow Australian industry to grow and provide employment. It had its greatest strength in Victoria and in...
s.
Marriage and family
On 16 April 1868 at Toowoomba, he married Janette Isabella Palmer, the daughter of the late Thomas Palmer, formerly of Summerhill, Killala BayKillala Bay
Killala Bay is a bay on the west coast of Ireland between County Mayo and County Sligo. It is situated between Lenadoon Point and Downpatrick Head and is the estuary for the River Moy....
, County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, J.P. and his wife, Emily, the daughter of Major Perceval.
Their children were:
- Archibald Lyon Walker - 1871,
- John Percival Walker - 1873,
- Emily Percival Walker - 1874,
- Alexander Fitzjames Walker - 1876,
- Egmont Palmer Walker (twin) - 1881,
- George Waterston Walker (twin) - 1881, and
- Janette Chevaria Hamilton Walker - 1889, the wife of Sir Ralph Verney, 1st Baronet of Eaton Square
Mention in poetry
The Dauntless Three by Banjo PatersonBanjo Paterson
Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson, OBE was an Australian bush poet, journalist and author. He wrote many ballads and poems about Australian life, focusing particularly on the rural and outback areas, including the district around Binalong, New South Wales where he spent much of his childhood...
, who was married to Walker's niece, Alice Emily Walker