James Ramsay

James Garden Ramsay (1827 – 17 January 1890) The farm machinery manufacturer John Shearer got his start as an apprentice to Ramsay.

Career Ramsay represented Mount Barker in the South Australian Legislative Assembly from 5 April 1870 (along with John Cheriton), and on 7 July 1880 was elected to the South Australian Legislative Council, for which he sat until of his death. Ramsay was Commissioner of Public Works in the Henry Ayers Ministry from January to March 1872 and in the two John Cox Bray governments from June 1881 to June 1884. Ramsay was Chief Secretary under John Cox Bray from 23 April 1884 to 16 June 1884; and under Thomas Playford from 11 June 1887 to 27 June 1889.

In 1886 Ramsay received the Queen's permission to bear the style of The Honourable within the colony.

On 20 January 1890, Ramsay died from injuries sustained when an oil lamp in a railway carriage in which he was travelling burst, showering him with burning kerosene.