James McLachlan (Australian politician)

James McLachlan
Senator for South Australia
In office
1 July 1935 – 30 June 1947
Member for Wooroora
In office
6 April 1918 – 31 January 1930
Personal details
Born(1871-03-09)9 March 1871
Alma, South Australia
Died1 December 1956(1956-12-01) (aged 85)
Kensington
Political partyUAP (1935–45)
Liberal (1945–47)
SpouseEllen Louisa Jury
ChildrenFour
Parent(s)James and Catherine McLachlan
OccupationFarmer, storekeeper, stock agent

James McLachlan (9 March 1871 – 1 December 1956) was an Australian politician. Born in Alma in the Mid North of South Australia, he was educated at Winham College before becoming a farmer at Dalkey near where he grew up. His parents James and Catherine, had both immigrated from Scotland.[1]

McLachlan married Ellen Louisa Jury in 1894 and abandoned farming in 1902 following a severe drought. After working as a storekeeper and agent, he was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly as the Liberal member for Wooroora in 1918, serving until 1930.[2] His father had held the same seat from 1893 to 1902. He resigned on 31 January 1930 to take up an appointment on the Pastoral Board of South Australia.[1]

In the 1934 election, McLachlan was elected to the Australian Senate as a United Australia Party Senator for South Australia, taking the seat from 1 July 1935. He served as Chairman of Committees from 1938 to 1941.[3] McLachlan held his seat until his retirement in 1946 (by which time he was a member of the Liberal Party). He died in 1956.[4]

  1. ^ a b "McLACHLAN, James (1870–1956) Senator for South Australia, 1935–47 (United Australia Party; Liberal Party of Australia)". The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  2. ^ "James McLachlan Jnr". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Appendix 3―Deputy Presidents and Chairmen of Committees (1901–2009)". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  4. ^ Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Archived from the original on 17 July 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2008.