James Dickson (New South Wales politician)

Dickson was born in Scotland and was the son of a farmer. After an elementary education he trained as a tailor and came to Australia as an assisted immigrant in 1838. On arrival he established a successful general store in Maitland and also accrued significant pastoral interests.^[1]

Dickson was a member of the first New South Wales Legislative Assembly which was convened after the establishment of responsible self-government in 1856. He was elected for the two-member seat of Northumberland Boroughs at a by-election in November 1857 which was caused by the death of the incumbent member, Bob Nichols.^[2] Dickson retained the seat, unopposed, at the 1858 election,^[3] but the electorate was abolished prior to the next election in 1859. At that election, Dickson was an unsuccessful candidate at East Maitland,^[4] and Patrick's Plains.^[5] He re-entered parliament as the member for East Maitland following the 1859 by-election caused by the resignation of the incumbent Joseph Chambers who had accepted a position as Crown Prosecutor in the Western Districts of New South Wales.^[6] Dickson retained this seat at the 1860 election,^[7] until his death in 1863. He did not attain ministerial or parliamentary office.^[8]