James Ford Strachan (1810 – 14 April 1875) was a merchant, grazier and politician in colonial Victoria, Australia, and a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. [1]
Strachan was born in Montrose, Scotland, the fifth son of John Strachan and his wife Isobel, née Smith. [2] Strachan arrived in Van Diemen's Land in 1832 with his widowed mother and two sisters. [2] He was an early settler in Port Phillip District (which later became Victoria), and a leading merchant in Melbourne, in which city he built the first brick store. [1]
Strachan was an active promoter of separation from New South Wales, and when the colony of Victoria was constituted in 1851 he was returned to the semi-elective Legislative Council, then the only chamber, as member for Geelong in October of that year. [1] After responsible government was conceded in 1855, Strachan was elected to the first wholly elective Legislative Council for the South-Western Province in November 1856. [3] He was a member of the second Haines Ministry without portfolio from April 1857 to March 1858. [1] During the great constitutional battle between the two Houses on the tariff and Darling grant "tacks" Strachan took a leading part on the side of the Council, and resigning his seat for the South-Western Province, contested the Western Province against Henry Miller, who had accepted office under Sir James McCulloch, and defeated him on 10 August 1866. [4] Strachan held the seat until September 1874. [3]
Strachan died at Geelong, Victoria on 14 April 1875, aged sixty-five years. [1] He was married to Lilias Cross née Murray, [3] daughter of Hugh Murray, a fellow Scottish emigrant, merchant and grazier. [2]
James Ford Strachan (1810 – 14 April 1875) was a merchant, grazier and politician in colonial Victoria, Australia, and a member of the Victorian Legislative Council. [1]
Strachan was born in Montrose, Scotland, the fifth son of John Strachan and his wife Isobel, née Smith. [2] Strachan arrived in Van Diemen's Land in 1832 with his widowed mother and two sisters. [2] He was an early settler in Port Phillip District (which later became Victoria), and a leading merchant in Melbourne, in which city he built the first brick store. [1]
Strachan was an active promoter of separation from New South Wales, and when the colony of Victoria was constituted in 1851 he was returned to the semi-elective Legislative Council, then the only chamber, as member for Geelong in October of that year. [1] After responsible government was conceded in 1855, Strachan was elected to the first wholly elective Legislative Council for the South-Western Province in November 1856. [3] He was a member of the second Haines Ministry without portfolio from April 1857 to March 1858. [1] During the great constitutional battle between the two Houses on the tariff and Darling grant "tacks" Strachan took a leading part on the side of the Council, and resigning his seat for the South-Western Province, contested the Western Province against Henry Miller, who had accepted office under Sir James McCulloch, and defeated him on 10 August 1866. [4] Strachan held the seat until September 1874. [3]
Strachan died at Geelong, Victoria on 14 April 1875, aged sixty-five years. [1] He was married to Lilias Cross née Murray, [3] daughter of Hugh Murray, a fellow Scottish emigrant, merchant and grazier. [2]