James Guy (Australian politician)
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James Guy | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Senator for Tasmania | |
| In office 5 September 1914 – 30 June 1920 | |
| Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Bass | |
| In office 30 April 1909 – 23 January 1913 | |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Anderson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 November 1860 Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
| Died | 23 August 1921 (aged 60) Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
| Party | Labor |
| Spouse |
Margaret McElwee (m. 1884) |
| Relations | George McElwee (brother-in-law) |
| Children | 5, including Allan |
| Occupation |
|
James Guy (13 November 1860 – 23 August 1921) was an Australian politician. A blacksmith by profession, he was one of the founders of the Tasmanian Labor Party in 1903 and held senior office in the party for nearly two decades. He was a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1909 to 1913 and a Senator for Tasmania from 1914 to 1920. His son Allan Guy followed him into politics.
Guy was born on 13 November 1860 in Launceston, Tasmania, the oldest of twelve children born to Margaret (née Polock) and Andrew Guy. He was educated at state schools and then began working as a blacksmith for W. Gurr and Son.[1]
State politics
In 1903, Guy helped establish the Tasmanian Workers' Political League, the predecessor of the modern Australian Labor Party (ALP), and was elected as the organisation's inaugural treasurer. He later served as president (1904–1906, 1908) and general secretary (1909–1921).[1]
Guy was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly at the 1909 state election,[2] winning the most votes in Bass. In parliament he supported the abolition of the Legislative Council, higher salaries for MPs, and the implementation of wage controls. His share of the vote fell in 1912 and he lost his seat at a snap election the following year.[1]