James Henry Young

James Henry Young (15 May 1834 – 9 May 1908) was an Australian colonial businessman and politician and Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Early life and business Young was born at Moor Court, near Romsey, Hampshire to Martha Druce and James Young, a farmer. At age 14 he was an apprentice with the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. He spent two years working on the gold fields, however was not successful and took employment with the Sydney & Melbourne Steam Packet Co. He settled in the Port Macquarie region in the late 1850s, working as a harbour pilot then as a shop keeper. He married Ellen Kemp on 21 July 1859 at Port Macquarie. In around 1876 he established a business as a produce merchant in Sydney, with interest in coastal shipping.

Political career In 1880 Young contested the new district of Hastings and Manning which included Port Macquarie, finishing on top of the poll. He represented the district until the abolition of multi-member districts in 1894. He was appointed Minister of Public Instruction in the fifth Robertson Ministry from December 1885 to February 1886. He joined the Free Trade Party on its establishment in 1887 and was elected Speaker of the Assembly in March 1887, on a salary of £1,500 per year. He was a commissioner for New South Wales for the exhibition in Adelaide in 1887 and Melbourne in 1888. The leader of the opposition, George Dibbs gave notice of a motion that would remove Young as Speaker and as a result he resigned on 21 October 1890.

His financial position recovered and he was appointed Secretary for Public Works in the fifth Parkes ministry on 14 August 1891 and held the post until the retirement of the ministry on 22 October 1891. Multi-member electorates were abolished in 1894 and Young successfully contested the new district of The Manning. The major allegation was that the effect of Young's statements were that he would favour Smith more than Barton in dealing with the requirements of the electorate. Justice Owen found Young had not abused the powers of his office, however rebuked him for a "grave indiscretion" in the way he spoke.

He was defeated for The Manning at the 1901 election by John Thomson. The Manning was abolished as a consequence of the 1903 New South Wales referendum, and partly absorbed by Gloucester. The sitting member for Gloucester, Richard Price, did not contest the election and Young defeated John Thompson at the Gloucester at the 1904 election, however the return of Richard Price saw Young defeated at the 1907 election.

Later life and death He died of heart failure in Chatswood on , survived by his wife Ellen, six daughters and two sons.