Sir James (1) MARTIN (1820 - 1886)**

Date of Birth: 14/05/1820 Place of Birth: Midleton, Cork, Ireland Date of Death: 04/11/1886 Place of Death: Potts Point, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Council 1 Jul 1848 30 Jun 1849 11mth(s) 30day(s) An Elective Member of the first Legislative Council 1843 - 1856 for the Counties of Cook and Westmoreland. Election declared void. Member of the NSW Legislative Council 1 Jul 1849 30 Jun 1851 1yr(s) 11mth(s) 30day(s) An Elective Member of the first Legislative Council 1843 - 1856 for the Counties of Cook and Westmoreland. Member of the NSW Legislative Council 1 Sep 1851 29 Feb 1856 4yr(s) 5mth(s) 29day(s) An Elective Member of the first Legislative Council 1843 - 1856 for the Counties of Cook and Westmoreland. Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 4 Apr 1856 11 Nov 1873 17yr(s) 7mth(s) 8day(s) Member for Cook and Westmoreland 4 Apr 1856 26 Aug 1856 4mth(s) 23day(s) 1st (1856 - 1857) Member for Cook and Westmoreland 5 Sep 1856 5 Sep 1856 1day(s) 1st (1856 - 1857) Member for Cook and Westmoreland 19 Sep 1857 19 Dec 1857 3mth(s) 1day(s) 1st (1856 - 1857) Member for Cook and Westmoreland 20 Jan 1858 11 Apr 1859 1yr(s) 2mth(s) 23day(s) 2nd (1858 - 1859) Member for East Sydney 9 Jun 1859 10 Nov 1860 1yr(s) 5mth(s) 2day(s) 3rd (1859 - 1860) Member for Orange 28 Jun 1862 16 Oct 1863 1yr(s) 3mth(s) 19day(s) 4th (1860 - 1864) Member for Tumut 16 Nov 1863 10 Nov 1864 11mth(s) 26day(s) 4th (1860 - 1864) Member for Monaro 24 Dec 1864 7 Mar 1865 2mth(s) 12day(s) 5th (1865 - 1869) Member for Lachlan 28 Dec 1864 22 Jan 1866 1yr(s) 26day(s) 5th (1865 - 1869) Member for Lachlan 8 Feb 1866 15 Nov 1869 3yr(s) 9mth(s) 8day(s) 5th (1865 - 1869) Member for East Sydney 3 Dec 1869 20 Dec 1870 1yr(s) 18day(s) 6th (1870 - 1872) Member for East Sydney 27 Dec 1870 3 Feb 1872 1yr(s) 1mth(s) 8day(s) 6th (1870 - 1872) Member for East Macquarie 22 Feb 1872 11 Nov 1873 1yr(s) 8mth(s) 21day(s) 7th (1872 - 1874) Attorney General 26 Aug 1856 2 Oct 1856 1mth(s) 7day(s) Attorney General 7 Sep 1857 8 Nov 1858 1yr(s) 2mth(s) 2day(s) Premier 16 Oct 1863 2 Feb 1865 1yr(s) 3mth(s) 18day(s) Premier 22 Jan 1866 26 Oct 1868 2yr(s) 9mth(s) 5day(s) Premier 16 Dec 1870 13 May 1872 1yr(s) 4mth(s) 28day(s) Attorney General 16 Oct 1863 2 Feb 1865 1yr(s) 3mth(s) 18day(s) Attorney General 22 Jan 1866 26 Oct 1868 2yr(s) 9mth(s) 5day(s) Attorney General 16 Dec 1870 13 May 1872 1yr(s) 4mth(s) 28day(s) Library Committee No.4 3 Jun 1856 18 Mar 1857 9mths 16days 1st (1856 - 1857) Standing Order Committee No.3 3 Jun 1856 18 Mar 1857 9mths 16days 1st (1856 - 1857) Petition of Peter Rawlings Committee No.5 4 Jun 1856 18 Mar 1857 9mths 15days 1st (1856 - 1857) Additional Ministerial Department Committee No.12 20 Aug 1856 18 Mar 1857 6mths 27days 1st (1856 - 1857) Richmond Bridge Company’s Bill Committee No.18 8 Nov 1856 18 Mar 1857 4mths 11days 1st (1856 - 1857) Sole Commissioner of Railways Incorporation Bill Committee No.22 19 Nov 1856 18 Mar 1857 3mths 28days 1st (1856 - 1857) Library Committee 12 Aug 1857 18 Dec 1857 4mths 7days 1st (1856 - 1857) Standing Order Committee 12 Aug 1857 18 Dec 1857 4mths 7days 1st (1856 - 1857) St John’s College Bill Committee No.6 26 Aug 1857 18 Dec 1857 3mths 23days 1st (1856 - 1857) Secondary Punishment Committee No.8 27 Aug 1857 18 Dec 1857 3mths 22days 1st (1856 - 1857) Standing Orders Committee No.2 25 Mar 1858 26 Nov 1858 8mths 2days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Library Committee No.3 25 Mar 1858 26 Nov 1858 8mths 2days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Moreton Bay Judge’s Appointment Bill Committee No.6 31 Mar 1858 26 Nov 1858 7mths 27days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Landed Property in cases of Intestacy Descent Bill Committee No.25 2 Jul 1858 26 Nov 1858 4mths 25days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Library Committee No.3 10 Dec 1858 9 Apr 1859 4mths 2nd (1858 - 1859) Standing Orders Committee No.2 10 Dec 1858 9 Apr 1859 4mths 2nd (1858 - 1859) Proposed Vote of Censure on the Attorney General Committee No.11 25 Mar 1859 9 Apr 1859 16days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Chairman Standing Orders Committee No.2 1 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 10mths 4days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Library Committee No.3 1 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 10mths 4days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Standing Orders Committee No.2 27 Sep 1860 9 Nov 1860 1mth 14days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Library Committee No.3 27 Sep 1860 9 Nov 1860 1mth 14days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Public Prisons in Sydney and Cumberland Committee No.14 23 Oct 1860 9 Nov 1860 18days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Payments made out of Public Funds without Authority of Parliament Committee No.4 26 Jun 1863 18 Aug 1863 1mth 24days 4th (1860 - 1864) Payments made out of Public Funds without Authority of Parliament Committee No.4 26 Jun 1863 18 Aug 1863 1mth 24days 4th (1860 - 1864) Chairman Harbour Defences Committee No.6 1 Jul 1863 20 Oct 1863 3mths 20days 4th (1860 - 1864) Present State and Management of Lunatic Asylums No.9 14 Jul 1863 20 Apr 1864 9mths 7days 4th (1860 - 1864) Reservations upon Runs in Tumut District Committee No.25 29 Sep 1863 11 Mar 1864 5mths 12days 4th (1860 - 1864) Disorganized State of the Public Works Department Committee No.28 6 Oct 1863 7 Apr 1864 6mths 2days 4th (1860 - 1864) Bank of New South Wales Incorporation Act Amendment Bill Committee No.32 5 Dec 1864 12 Feb 1864 4th (1860 - 1864) Chairman St Patrick’s Church Land Trust Bill Committee No.3 8 Mar 1865 14 Mar 1865 7days 5th (1865 - 1869) Fisheries Bill Committee No.9 24 Mar 1865 3 May 1865 1mth 10days 5th (1865 - 1869) Harbour Defences Committee No.13 2 May 1865 8 Jun 1865 1mth 7days 5th (1865 - 1869) Present State of the Colony Committee No.7 7 Nov 1865 28 Mar 1865 5th (1865 - 1869) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 25 Jul 1866 18 Mar 1867 7mths 22days 5th (1865 - 1869) Standing Orders Committee No.3 25 Jul 1866 18 Mar 1867 7mths 22days 5th (1865 - 1869) Library Committee No.2 25 Jul 1866 18 Mar 1867 7mths 22days 5th (1865 - 1869) Library Committee No.2 3 Jul 1867 21 Aug 1867 1mth 19days 5th (1865 - 1869) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 3 Jul 1867 27 Apr 1868 9mths 25days 5th (1865 - 1869) Library Committee No.2 3 Jul 1867 27 Apr 1868 9mths 25days 5th (1865 - 1869) Address to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on his visit to the Colony Committee No.21 16 Jan 1868 16 Jan 1868 1day 5th (1865 - 1869) Chairman Address to Her Majesty in reference to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh Committee No.26 20 Apr 1868 20 Apr 1868 1day 5th (1865 - 1869) Chairman Library Committee No.3 15 Dec 1868 3 Feb 1869 1mth 20days 5th (1865 - 1869) Alleged Conspiracy for purposes of Treason and Assassination Committee No.3 15 Dec 1868 3 Feb 1869 1mth 20days 5th (1865 - 1869) Refreshment Room Committee No.6 15 Dec 1868 24 Mar 1869 3mths 10days 5th (1865 - 1869) Standing Orders Committee No.5 15 Dec 1868 24 Mar 1869 3mths 10days 5th (1865 - 1869) Library Committee No.2 29 Sep 1869 13 Sep 1869 5th (1865 - 1869) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 29 Sep 1869 13 Nov 1869 1mth 16days 5th (1865 - 1869) Standing Orders Committee No.3 29 Sep 1869 13 Nov 1869 1mth 16days 5th (1865 - 1869) Standing Orders Committee No.3 2 Feb 1870 22 Feb 1870 21days 6th (1870 - 1872) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 2 Feb 1870 7 May 1870 3mths 6days 6th (1870 - 1872) Library Committee No.2 2 Feb 1870 7 May 1870 3mths 6days 6th (1870 - 1872) The Bank of New South Wales Bill of 1870 Committee No.15 2 Mar 1870 15 Mar 1870 14days 6th (1870 - 1872) Chairman Standing Orders Committee No.3 12 Aug 1870 22 Mar 1871 7mths 11days 6th (1870 - 1872) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 12 Aug 1870 22 Jun 1871 10mths 11days 6th (1870 - 1872) Library Committee No.2 12 Aug 1870 22 Jun 1871 10mths 11days 6th (1870 - 1872) The Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 14 Nov 1871 14 Nov 1871 1day 6th (1870 - 1872) Refreshment Room Committee No.4 15 Nov 1871 1 Feb 1872 2mths 18days 6th (1870 - 1872) Standing Orders Committee No.3 15 Nov 1871 1 Feb 1872 2mths 18days 6th (1870 - 1872) Library Committee No.2 15 Nov 1871 1 Feb 1872 2mths 18days 6th (1870 - 1872) Opening Speech of the Administrator of the Government Committee No.1 1 May 1872 1 May 1872 1day 6th (1870 - 1872) Chairman Refreshment Room No.5 12 Jun 1872 13 Aug 1872 2mths 2days 6th (1870 - 1872) Standing Orders Committee No.4 12 Jun 1872 13 Aug 1872 2mths 2days 6th (1870 - 1872) Library Committee No.3 12 Jun 1872 13 Aug 1872 2mths 2days 6th (1870 - 1872) Refreshment Room Committee No.5 6 Nov 1872 5 Mar 1873 3mths 28days 7th (1872 - 1874) Standing Orders Committee No.4 6 Nov 1872 28 Mar 1873 4mths 23days 7th (1872 - 1874) Library Committee No.3 6 Nov 1872 25 Apr 1873 5mths 20days 7th (1872 - 1874) Refreshment Room No.4 10 Sep 1873 25 Jun 1874 9mths 16days 7th (1872 - 1874) Standing Orders Committee No.3 10 Sep 1873 25 Jun 1874 9mths 16days 7th (1872 - 1874) Library Committee No.2 10 Sep 1873 25 Jun 1874 9mths 16days 7th (1872 - 1874) Payment of Duty on Tobacco Committee No.15 4 Nov 1873 12 Dec 1873 1mth 9days 7th (1872 - 1874)

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Lawyer (solicitor). Chief Justice of New South Wales from 1873 - 1886. Arrived in Sydney with parents 1821, father working as groom at Parramatta. Educated at Dame's School, Parramatta, by D. Thurston, Rev. W. Walker and others; family made sacrifices to send him to W.T. Cape's school 1833-1836; brilliant student. Journalist on the Australian, edited by G.R. Nichols; acting editor 1839; articled as solicitor to Nichols at 20; admitted as a solicitor 10 May 1845; established successful police court practice. Wrote for the Atlas 1844; managed and edited it for two years from May 1845. Admitted to Bar 11 Sept. 1856; very successful practice; examiner, law faculty, University of Sydney; Chief Justice, Supreme Court of New South Wales, 1873-1886. Became secretary of Sydney College Committee 1848, then secretary of Sydney Choral Society 1854; appointed to National Board of Education 1855; on committee Sydney Club 1858-1859; on committee Victoria Club 1861; elected fellow University of Sydney 1861; on committee Hyde Park Improvement Society. 1864-1865; vice-president Civil Service Club 1871; appointed to Committee of Defence from Foreign Aggression 1872. Author of The Australian Sketch Book, 1838.

Honours Received

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 1869. Commissioned as a Queens Counsel (QC) in 1857

Personal

Eldest son of John Martin, castle steward, and his wife Mary Hennessey. Married Isabella Long on 20 January 1853 and they had issue, 8 sons and 7 daughters. Church of England.

Additional Information

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5. Personal papers in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales: 1. Martin family - papers, 1830 - 1948 (MLMSS 2425); photographs in the PICMAN Database. 2. James Martin - papers, 1825 - 1894 (MLMSS 240); photographs in the PICMAN Database. 3. Sir James Martin - The Australian Sketchbook, 1838. (MLMSS 6547 [CY 3925]); photographs in the PICMAN Database. 4. Sir James Martin - speeches and articles, 1844, 1851 (DLMS 138). 5. Sir James Martin - papers, ca. 1873 - 1880 (DLMSQ 650). David Clune and Ken Turner (Editors), The Premiers of New South Wales: Volume 1 - 1856 - 1901, The Federation Press, Sydney, 2006 [Chapter 6: "Martin, James", by JM Bennett, p. 103]. J. M. Bennett, Sir James Martin Premier and Chief Justice of New South Wales, The Federation Press, Sydney, 2005.

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