James Ronald

James Ronald
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Southern Melbourne
In office
29 March 1901 – 12 December 1906
Preceded by New seat
Succeeded by Division abolished
Personal details
Born 27 August 1861(1861-08-27)
Scotland
Died 27 July 1941(1941-07-27) (aged 79)
Nationality Scottish Australian
Political party Labor (1901–06)
Independent (1906)
Occupation Clergyman
Religion Presbyterian

James Black Ronald (27 August 1861 – 27 July 1941) was an Australian politician. Born in Scotland, he was educated at Edinburgh University and became a Presbyterian clergyman. Migrating to Australia in 1888, he became a clergyman in Melbourne. In 1901, he attempted to gain Protectionist endorsement to contest the Australian House of Representatives seat of Southern Melbourne; when he was unsuccessful, he turned to the Labor Party, which endorsed him instead. Ronald won the seat, one of only two Victorian Labor members elected in the first federal election. Ronald's seat was abolished in 1906, and he attempted to gain Labor endorsement to contest the neighbouring Melbourne Ports. When this endorsement was given to James Mathews instead, Ronald contested the seat as an independent Labor candidate, but was unsuccessful. He rejoined the ALP after the election, but was one of many Labor members to leave in 1916 over the issue of conscription, eventually ending up in the Nationalist Party. Ronald died in 1941.[1]

References

  1. ^ Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia. Retrieved 2008-07-05. 
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
New seat
Member for Southern Melbourne
1901 – 1906
Succeeded by
Seat abolished