Mr James Henry YOUNG (1834 - 1908)**

Date of Birth: 15/05/1834 Place of Birth: Moorcourt, near Romsey, Hampshire, England Date of Death: 09/05/1908 Place of Death: Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 27 Nov 1880 19 Aug 1907 26yr(s) 8mth(s) 24day(s) Member for Hastings and Manning 27 Nov 1880 23 Nov 1882 1yr(s) 11mth(s) 28day(s) 10th (1880 - 1882) Member for Hastings and Manning 12 Dec 1882 7 Oct 1885 2yr(s) 9mth(s) 26day(s) 11th (1882 - 1885) Member for Hastings and Manning 20 Oct 1885 22 Dec 1885 2mth(s) 3day(s) 12th (1885 - 1887) Member for Hastings and Manning 6 Jan 1886 26 Jan 1887 1yr(s) 21day(s) 12th (1885 - 1887) Member for Hastings and Manning 9 Feb 1887 19 Jan 1989 101yr(s) 11mth(s) 11day(s) 13th (1887 - 1889) Member for Hastings and Manning 9 Feb 1889 6 Jun 1891 2yr(s) 3mth(s) 29day(s) 14th (1889 - 1891) Member for Hastings and Manning 20 Jun 1891 18 Aug 1891 1mth(s) 30day(s) 15th (1891 - 1894) Member for Hastings and Manning 26 Aug 1891 25 Jun 1894 2yr(s) 10mth(s) 15th (1891 - 1894) Member for Manning 17 Jul 1894 2 Aug 1894 17day(s) 16th (1894 - 1895) Member for Manning 11 Aug 1894 22 Jul 1895 11mth(s) 12day(s) 16th (1894 - 1895) Member for Manning 24 Jul 1895 5 Jul 1895 17th (1895 - 1898) Member for Manning 27 Jul 1898 11 Jun 1901 2yr(s) 10mth(s) 16day(s) 18th (1898 - 1901) Member for Gloucester 6 Aug 1904 19 Aug 1907 3yr(s) 14day(s) 20th (1904 - 1907) Minister of Public Instruction 22 Dec 1885 25 Feb 1886 2mth(s) 4day(s) Secretary for Public Works 14 Aug 1891 22 Oct 1891 2mth(s) 9day(s) Secretary for Public Works 3 Aug 1894 3 Jul 1899 4yr(s) 11mth(s) 1day(s) Secretary for Lands 3 Jul 1899 13 Sep 1899 2mth(s) 11day(s) Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 8 Mar 1887 21 Oct 1890 3yr(s) 7mth(s) 14day(s) Hill’s Estate Bill Committee No.22 19 Oct 1881 2 Dec 1881 1mth 14days 10th (1880 - 1882) Working of the Fisheries Act of 1881 Committee No.7 30 Jan 1883 21 Apr 1883 2mths 23days 11th (1882 - 1885) Mort’s Bay Improvement Bill Committee No.16 8 Mar 1883 6 Apr 1883 30days 11th (1882 - 1885) Wollongong Gas-light Company’s Bill Committee No.19 4 Apr 1883 18 Apr 1883 15days 11th (1882 - 1885) Mort Bay Improvement Bill Committee No.17 21 Nov 1883 5 Feb 1884 2mths 16days 11th (1882 - 1885) Armidale Gas Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.29 24 Jan 1884 19 Feb 1884 27days 11th (1882 - 1885) Victorian Coal Mining Company’s Bill Committee No.38 26 Feb 1884 25 Apr 1884 2mths 11th (1882 - 1885) Victorian Coal-mining Company’s Bill (No2) Committee No.45 30 Apr 1884 10 Jun 1884 1mth 12days 11th (1882 - 1885) Balmain Tramway Bill Committee No.13 25 Sep 1885 1 Oct 1885 7days 12th (1885 - 1887) Randwick Cemetery Unused Land Sale Bill Committee No.8 25 Sep 1885 2 Oct 1885 8days 12th (1885 - 1887) Ashfield Church of England School Bill Committee No.20 29 Sep 1885 30 Sep 1885 2days 12th (1885 - 1887) Board’s Settlement Bill Committee No.14 29 Sep 1885 2 Oct 1885 4days 12th (1885 - 1887) Ashfield Church of England School Bill Committee No.21 24 Mar 1886 14 Apr 1886 22days 12th (1885 - 1887) Privilege-Mr Barbour, MP Committee No.53 22 Jun 1886 22 Jul 1886 1mth 1day 12th (1885 - 1887) Penrith Water and Gas Supply Committee No.61 13 Aug 1886 18 Aug 1886 6days 12th (1885 - 1887) Standing Orders Committee No.3 15 Mar 1887 6 Apr 1887 23days 13th (1887 - 1889) Chairman Library Committee No.4 15 Mar 1887 13 Jul 1887 3mths 29days 13th (1887 - 1889) Standing Orders Committee No.2 21 Sep 1887 29 May 1888 8mths 9days 13th (1887 - 1889) Library Committee No.3 21 Sep 1887 24 Jul 1888 10mths 4days 13th (1887 - 1889) Standing Orders Committee No.2 24 Oct 1888 27 Jan 1888 13th (1887 - 1889) Chairman Library Committee No.3 24 Oct 1888 27 Jan 1889 3mths 4days 13th (1887 - 1889) Standing Orders Committee No.4 3 Apr 1889 16 May 1889 1mth 14days 14th (1889 - 1891) Chairman Library Committee No.5 3 Apr 1889 10 Oct 1889 6mths 8days 13th (1887 - 1889) Standing Orders Committee No.3 27 Nov 1889 21 Dec 1889 25days 14th (1889 - 1891) Library Committee No.4 27 Nov 1889 21 Dec 1889 25days 14th (1889 - 1891) Standing Orders Committee No.3 30 Apr 1890 3 Dec 1890 7mths 4days 14th (1889 - 1891) Chairman Library Committee No.4 30 Apr 1890 20 Dec 1890 7mths 21days 14th (1889 - 1891) Library Committee No.3 26 May 1891 2 Jun 1891 8days 15th (1891 - 1894) Standing Orders Committee No.2 26 May 1891 2 Jun 1891 8days 15th (1891 - 1894) Standing Orders Committee No.2 28 Jul 1891 1 Apr 1892 8mths 5days 15th (1891 - 1894) Simpson’s Railway Bill Committee No.19 8 Sep 1891 24 Nov 1891 2mths 17days 15th (1891 - 1894) Application for a Free Pass made by Mr Black, MP Committee No.27 17 Dec 1891 21 Mar 1891 15th (1891 - 1894) Standing Orders Committee No.5 5 Oct 1892 18 Oct 1892 14days 15th (1891 - 1894) Menindie Irrigation Bill Committee No.21 23 Feb 1893 22 Mar 1893 28days 15th (1891 - 1894) Agricultural Holdings Bill Committee No.24 18 Apr 1893 30 May 1893 1mth 13days 15th (1891 - 1894) Standing Orders Committee No.3 27 Sep 1893 8 Dec 1893 2mths 12days 15th (1891 - 1894) Standing Orders Committee No.3 23 Jan 1894 5 Jun 1894 4mths 14days 16th (1894 - 1895) Standing Orders Committee No. 2 29 Aug 1894 5 Jul 1895 10mths 7days 16th (1894 - 1895) Shoaling at the mouth of North Creek, near Ballina. Committee No. 11 27 Nov 1894 5 Jul 1895 7mths 9days 16th (1894 - 1895) Hunter District Water Supply and Sewerage Works. Committee No. 14 11 Dec 1894 5 Jul 1895 6mths 25days 16th (1894 - 1895) Appropriation Bill. Committee No. 15 21 Dec 1894 5 Jul 1895 6mths 15days 16th (1894 - 1895) Standing Orders. Committee No. 2 20 Aug 1895 8 Jul 1898 2yrs 10mths 19days 17th (1895 - 1898) Standing Orders Committee No.2 14 May 1896 16 Nov 1896 6mths 3days 17th (1895 - 1898) North Shore Bridge Bill Committee No.13 1 Jul 1896 28 Jul 1896 28days 17th (1895 - 1898) City and North Sydney Railway Bill; Sydney and North Sydney Bridge and Tramway Bill. North Shore Bridge Bill Committee No.17 21 Jul 1896 21 Oct 1896 3mths 1day 17th (1895 - 1898) North Shore Bridge Bill Committee appointed 13 August 1896 Claim of John Brennan against Roads Department Committee No.27 22 Sep 1896 16 Nov 1896 1mth 26days 17th (1895 - 1898) Case of Thomas Buckley – Public Works Department Committee No.33 20 Oct 1896 16 Nov 1896 28days 17th (1895 - 1898) Standing Orders Committee No.2 28 Apr 1897 18 Aug 1897 3mths 22days 17th (1895 - 1898) Chairman Library Committee No.3 28 Apr 1897 10 Dec 1897 7mths 13days 17th (1895 - 1898) Standing Orders Committee No. 2 28 Jun 1898 8 Jul 1898 11days 17th (1895 - 1898) Claim of Samuel and Mary Lemon Committee No. 10 30 Aug 1898 23 Dec 1898 3mths 24days 18th (1898 - 1901) Claim of John Sullivan, Harbours and Rivers Department Committee No. 8 30 Aug 1898 23 Dec 1898 3mths 24days 18th (1898 - 1901) Case of Thomas Buckley, Public Works Department Committee No. 7 30 Aug 1898 23 Dec 1898 3mths 24days 18th (1898 - 1901) City and North Sydney Connection Bill Committee No. 11 20 Sep 1898 23 Dec 1898 3mths 4days 18th (1898 - 1901) Saywell’s Tramway and Electric Lighting Bill Committee No. 12 20 Sep 1898 23 Dec 1898 3mths 4days 18th (1898 - 1901) Claim of John Brennan against Roads Department Committee No 14 11 Oct 1898 23 Dec 1898 2mths 13days 18th (1898 - 1901) Sydney and North Sydney Bridge and Tramway Bill Committee No. 16 26 Oct 1898 23 Dec 1898 1mth 28days 18th (1898 - 1901) North Shore Bridge Bill Committee No. 15 26 Oct 1898 23 Dec 1898 1mth 28days 18th (1898 - 1901) Claims of Mr. W. Birthrey, Road Contracts, Gloucester Committee No. 19 22 Nov 1898 23 Dec 1898 1mth 2days 18th (1898 - 1901) Library Committee No.5 2 Aug 1899 10 Oct 1889 14th (1889 - 1891) Refreshment Committee No.6 2 Aug 1899 10 Oct 1899 2mths 9days 18th (1898 - 1901) Terrace Street Closing Bill Committee No.8 9 Aug 1899 15 Aug 1899 7days 18th (1898 - 1901) The Lieutenant Governor’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 24 Jul 1901 24 Jul 1901 1day 18th (1898 - 1901) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 24 Aug 1904 1 Dec 1904 3mths 8days 19th (1901 - 1904) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 14 Jun 1905 9 Dec 1905 5mths 26days 20th (1904 - 1907) Claim of Mr F.E Stowe; Electric Tram, Darling Street, Balmain Committee No.18 3 Oct 1905 22 Nov 1905 1mth 20days 20th (1904 - 1907) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.6 5 Jul 1906 18 Dec 1906 5mths 14days 20th (1904 - 1907) Standing Orders Committee No.3 10 Jul 1906 18 Dec 1906 5mths 9days 20th (1904 - 1907) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.2 4 Jul 1907 12 Jul 1907 9days 20th (1904 - 1907) Standing Orders Committee No.4 9 Jul 1907 12 Jul 1907 4days 20th (1904 - 1907)

Political Party Activity

Freetrade

Community Activity

Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace in 1870.

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Commission agent. Produce merchant and commercial agent. Educated at Winchester and London. Went to sea with Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Arrived in Sydney on 3 August 1852. Spent two years on the goldfields unsuccessfully returned to sea in 1854. Went to Port Macquarie in late 1850s and became a harbour pilot; opened a store at nearby Hursley. became a postmaster and developed coastal shipping interests retaining business interests at Port Macquarie Director of Australian Prudential and Medical Assurance Society Limited in 1880s. Encountered financial difficulties in 1890, prompting his resignation from the Speakership; recovered fortunes rapidly. Commissioner for International Exhibitions in 1887 and 1888. Supported federation. Became a deputy sheriff 1973-1874; director of Australian Prudential and Medical Assurance Society Limited; Freetrade and supported Federation.

Personal

Son of James Young, farmer, and his wife Martha Druce. Married Ellen Kemp on 21 July 1859 at Port Macquarie and had issue, 6 daughters and 2 sons. Church of England. Funeral in Church of England cemetery at Gore Hill.

Additional Information

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6 SEE ALSO PRS 376.LA - Legislative Assembly, Mr Speaker Young's Decisions, 1887 Text from the book: 'The Presiding Officers of the Parliament of New South Wales', Sydney, 1995

James Young was born on 15 May 1834 in Hampshire in England. Arriving in Sydney in 1852, he spent two unsuccessful years prospecting for gold before joining the Sydney and Melbourne Steam Packet Company. Settling in Port Macquarie, his extensive business interests consisted of a general store at Hursley, an agent for the Clarence and Richmond River Steam Navigation Company, wholesale produce merchant, commercial agent and various shipping concerns in the Port Macquarie region. He married Ellen Kemp in 1859 and they had two sons and six daughters. Young entered the Legislative Assembly in 1880 as the Member for The Hastings and The Manning, remaining the local member (The Manning 1894-1901; Gloucester 1904-1907) until six months before his death in 1908. Young held several portfolios including Public Instruction between 1885 and 1886 and Lands in 1899, but it was as Secretary for Public Works in 1891 and again between 1894 and 1899 that Young developed a reputation for promoting growth through construction projects. He was responsible for building ventures such as the development of a deep-water port at Port Kembla and a rail link between Taree and Maitland. He was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly between 1887 and 1890, and although he presided over a very disruptive and difficult House (he had difficulties in dealing with the many disruptive and rowdy members of the day), his resignation from office was the result of financial difficulties. He died on 9 May 1908 in Chatswood, New South Wales.

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