James Stopford (Australian politician)
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James Stopford | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Mount Morgan | |
| In office 22 May 1915 – 11 June 1932 | |
| Preceded by | James Crawford |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Maryborough | |
| In office 11 June 1932 – 30 November 1936 | |
| Preceded by | John Blackley |
| Succeeded by | William Demaine |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Stopford 22 July 1878 Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 30 November 1936 (aged 58) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Resting place | Toowong Cemetery |
| Party | Labor |
| Spouse | Ellen Williams (d. 1930) |
| Occupation | Miner |
James (Stoppy) Stopford (22 July 1878 – 30 November 1936) was an Australian miner, union organiser and Labor politician from Mount Morgan, Queensland. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Mount Morgan from 1915 until 1932, and then Maryborough until his death in 1936.
James Stopford was born on 22 July 1878 in Rockhampton, the son of John Joshua Stopford and his wife Elizabeth (née Wilson). His family moved to Mount Morgan when he was two years old. He attended Mount Morgan State School.[1]
James Stopford commenced his working life as a miner and engine driver at the Mount Morgan Mine. He was an active member of the Labor Party and the Australian Workers Union and was dismissed by the company for his union activity. He later become an organiser for the union and a member of the branch executive for the party.[2]
He married Ellen Williams in 1901.[3]
Politics
A member of the Australian Labour Party, James Stopford contested the newly created electorate of Mount Morgan in the 1912 election but was unsuccessful (Ministerialist James Crawford was elected). However, he was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in the Mount Morgan in the 1915 election and held the seat until the 1932 election. During that time, he was a Minister without Office from 6 October 1922 to 2 July 1923 and then Home Secretary from 2 July 1923 to 21 May 1929.[1][4][5]
At the 1932 state election, the seat of Mount Morgan was abolished and absorbed into Fitzroy, so Stopford decided to contest Maryborough against the sitting member John Blackley of the Country and Progressive National Party.[4][5][6] As part of a statewide swing to the Labor Party, Stopford was elected with a majority of 6,000 in Maryborough.[7] Stopford held Maryborough in the 1935 election. While representing Maryborough, Stopford was appointed Secretary for Mines from 17 June 1932.
