James Byrnes

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 ten years between 1857 and 1872. He held the position of Secretary for Public Works on two occasions between 1866 and 1872.

Biography

Early life

James Byrnes was born on 15 January 1806 in Edgeworthstown, county Longford, Ireland. His parents were James Byrnes and Frances (née Moorhouse), from a Protestant Anglo-Irish family. He migrated to Sydney with his family when Byrnes was about two years-old. His father served with the New South Wales Corps (often referred to as the Rum Corps) and with other regiments garrisoned in New South Wales. Byrnes had little formal education served an apprenticeship to a joiner and builder, and pursued that occupation for a number of years. Together with his younger 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. a position he held until February 1866.

Subsequent attempts to re-gain public office were unsuccessful. His brother William was a member of the Legislative Council between 1858 and 1891.

Career after politics

In 1875 Byrnes was appointed to the office of Government Valuator of resumed lands required for railway purposes. He remained in that position until his death in 1886.

James Byrnes died at his residence in Macquarie-street, Parramatta, on 17 September 1886. Prior to his demise he had been confined to his bed for about nine weeks, suffering from heart disease “and other disorders”.