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.^[2] 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.^[3][2]

Colonial Parliament

Prior to the establishment of responsible self-government, Byrnes was elected to the semi-elected New South Wales Legislative Council in March 1850. He represented the electorate of County Cumberland but resigned after 15 months. Following the granting of self-government, Byrnes was elected to the first Legislative Assembly as one of the three members for the seat of Cumberland (South Riding). Although failing to be elected at the general election of 1856, he was subsequently successful at an 1857 by-election caused by the retirement of William Manning due to ill-health. At the 1858 colonial election he was elected to the two-member seat of Parramatta. He was subsequently the first member elected to the seat at the 1859 election but at the 1860 election he gained second place behind a newcomer John Lackey. While still successful, Byrnes took offence at being placed second and used his declaration of poll speech to upbraid the voters. He resigned from the seat before parliament met. Following his resignation, in 1861 he was one of 21 men that Premier Charles Cowper appointed in an attempt to stack the Legislative Council, however there was a mass walk-out from sitting members which meant that the council was unable to sit before it was prorogued and Byrnes and the others were unable to take their seat. In February 1862 he was elected the Mayor of Parramatta,^[4] a position he held until February 1866.^[3]

At the 1864 election Byrnes was again the first member elected for Parramatta and he retained the seat until he was defeated at the 1872 election. Byrnes initially supported the Cowper administration. When they were defeated in 1865, Byrnes accepted the office of the Minister for Public Works in the Martin administration. In August 1867 it was commented in the colonial press that he had discharged the duties of that office “if not with any marked brilliancy, at least, with industry and considerable ability”.^[2] Byrnes served as Secretary for Public Works in the second and third ministries of James Martin.^[3][5]

Subsequent attempts to re-gain public office were unsuccessful.^[1][3]

Family

Byrnes married Ruth Barber in 1826 and together they had five sons and a daughter. He remarried in 1852 to Ann Harris and they had a daughter.^[3] His youngest son, Charles, took over the woollen mill and was also a member of the Legislative Assembly as the member for Parramatta at various times between 1874 and 1882.^[6] His brother William was a member of the Legislative Council between 1858 and 1891.^[7]

Career after politics

In 1875 Byrnes was appointed to the office of Government Valuator of resumed lands required for railway purposes.^[8] He remained in that position until his death in 1886.^[9]

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”.^[9]