James Dooley (Australian politician)

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James Thomas Dooley (26 April 1877 - 2 January 1950) served twice, briefly, as Premier of New South Wales during the early 1920s.

Born in Longford, Ireland, he arrived in Australia at the age of 10, living first in Brisbane and subsequently in Lithgow, New South Wales. When he entered the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the Lithgow constituency of Hartley, he was its youngest member (aged 30) at the time.

Having briefly served as Deputy Premier under John Storey, he became Premier when Storey died in office. His first term as Premier lasted for little more than two months, from 10 October 1921 to 20 December 1921. After George Fuller held the premiership less than one day, Dooley took Fuller's place; his second term lasted until 13 April 1922, and then Fuller resumed office.

During the 1925-27 Labor government led by Jack Lang, Dooley served as Speaker. Afterwards he fell out with the Labor leadership, lost Labor preselection for his seat, and stood without success as an Independent Labor candidate in the 1932 election which swept Lang from office. He owned two Lithgow hotels during his later years.

Preceded by John Storey	Premier of New South Wales (first term) 1921	Succeeded by George Fuller
Preceded by George Fuller	Premier of New South Wales (second term) 1921-1922	Succeeded by George Fuller

Premiers of New South Wales
Donaldson | Cowper | Parker | Forster | Robertson | Martin | Parkes | Farnell | Stuart | Dibbs | Jennings | Reid | Lyne | See | Waddell | Carruthers | Wade | McGowen | Holman | Storey | Dooley | Fuller | Lang | Bavin | Stevens | Mair | McKell | McGirr | Cahill | Heffron | Renshaw | Askin | Lewis | Willis | Wran | Unsworth | Greiner | Fahey | Carr | Iemma