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Former Member Details

Mr James Robert WILSHIRE (1809 - 1860)

Member Photo
Date of Birth: 29/07/1809
Place of Birth: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Date of Death: 19/08/1860
Place of Death: Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
Parliamentary Service
Position Start End Period Notes
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 24 Mar 1858 30 Aug 1860 2 years 5 months 7 days First (Quinquennial) Appointments under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 23 March 1858.
Pyrmont Bridge Company’s Bill Committee No.15 13 Nov 1857 18 Dec 1857 1 month 6 days
City Commissioners’ Department Committee No.7 12 Aug 1856 18 Mar 1857 7 months 7 days
Member for Sydney (City) 13 Mar 1856 19 Dec 1857 1 year 9 months 7 days
Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 13 Mar 1856 19 Dec 1857 1 year 9 months 7 days
Member of the NSW Legislative Council 01 Jan 1855 29 Feb 1856 1 year 2 months An Elective Member of the first Legislative Council 1843 - 1856 for the City of Sydney
Political Party Activity
Community Activity
Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace (JP) in 1844.
Qualifications, occupations and interests
Tanner and currier. Educated at Dr L.H Halloran's school. With brother inherited a large tannery at Brickfield Hill on father's death in 1840 and carried on the business as curriers and tanners. Met financial difficulties but recovered. Defeated in election for the old Legislative Council in 1843; Assisted reverend J.D Lang to form the Australian League; prominent in Anti-transportation movement and member of the Anti-transportation Association. In 1850 was a chairman of the committee to set up a newspaper edited by Lang; member of Constitution Committee in 1853; On committee of Benevolent Society of New South Wales; trustee of Savings Bank of New South Wales.
Military Service
Honours Received
Membership of other Parliaments & Offices Held
Local Government Activity
Alderman of the Sydney City Council for Phillip Ward, 1 November 1842 until 13 December 1853. Mayor from 1843 until 1844.
Personal
Second son of James Wilshire, public servant, tanner and manufacturer, and his wife Esther Pitt. Married (1) Elizabeth Thompson on 13 August 1836 at Sydney and had issue, 2 sons and 3 daughters. Married (2) Sarah Thompson on 29 May 1847. Church of England.
Additional Information
Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB), Volume 6