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Sir James Willson Agnew KCMG (2 October 1815 – 8 November 1901) was an Australian politician, premier of Tasmania 1886-1887.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Legacy 4 References

Agnew was born in Ballyclare, Ireland and educated at London, Paris and Glasgow, and qualified for the medical profession, M.R.C.S.(London) in 1838, and M.D.(Glasgow) 1839. He almost at once went to Australia and arrived at Sydney before the close of 1839. He decided to settle in what is now the Western district of Victoria, but not liking the life, went to Melbourne, where he was offered the position of private secretary to John Franklin, then governor of Tasmania. He sailed for Hobart in 1841 and found that the position had been filled. He was, however, appointed medical officer at the Cascades Peninsula, whence he transferred to the General Hospital at Hobart.

This was followed by private practice in Hobart for 36 years. He had joined the Tasmanian Society, afterwards the Royal Society of Tasmania, in 1841, and in that year contributed an article to its journal on the "Poison of the Tasmanian Snakes". In March 1851 he was elected a member of the council and remained on the council until his death some 50 years later. He had abandoned practising medicine when he took up political life full-time in 1877. He was honorary secretary from 1861 to 1893, and for several years a vice-president.

Agnew retired from his medical profession and was elected by Hobart to the Tasmanian Legislative Council in 1877. He was a member of the Fysh 'Fysh-Giblin' ministry in that year, without portfolio, and was also in the Giblin ministry which succeeded it, and in the second Giblin ministry from October 1879 to February 1881.

He was then absent from the colony on a long visit to Europe. After his return he was elected to the legislative council in 1884, and on March 8, 1886 he took over from Adye Douglas and formed a ministry in which he was premier and chief secretary. This lasted a little more than 12 months and he resigned his post and political life on 29 March 1887. His last years were spent at Hobart where he died on 8 November 1901.

Agnew was created K.C.M.G. July 1894 formalised in January 1895. He married (i) in 1846 Louisa Mary Fraser who died in 1868, and (ii) in 1878, Blanche Legge. There were several children by the first marriage, of whom only a daughter survived him. Agnew was much respected in Hobart all his life. He was a useful politician, and his general interests, especially in the cultural life of the community, made him one of the best-known men in Tasmania. He was a founder and fostered the Royal Society of Tasmania and gave many volumes to its library, he was much interested in the museum and botanical gardens and the public library, of which he was chairman. He was also president of the Tasmanian Racing Club and of the Tasmanian Club. His service to Tasmania came from his involvement with scientific studies and encouragement of art. He joined the council in 1851, became secretary in 1860, chairman of the boards that administered the public library and museum, a member of the council of education and for a short term he was a member of the council of the university.

• Serle, Percival. (1949). "Agnew, James". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.
• Parliamentary Library profile
• Bio at ADB

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1949 edition of Dictionary of Australian Biography from
Project Gutenberg of Australia, which is in the public domain in Australia and the United States of America.

Preceded by Adye Douglas

Premier of Tasmania 1886-1887

Succeeded by Philip Fysh

Premiers of Tasmania
Champ | Gregson | Weston | Smith | Chapman | Whyte | Dry | Wilson | Innes | Kennerley | Reibey | Fysh | Giblin | Crowther | Douglas | Agnew | Dobson | Braddon | E. Lewis | Propsting | Evans | Earle | Solomon | Lee | Hayes | Lyons | McPhee | Ogilvie | Dwyer-Gray | Cosgrove | Brooker | Reece | Bethune | Neilson | Lowe | Holgate | Gray | Field | Groom | Rundle | Bacon | Lennon

• Australian Encyclopædia (1912 - third edition revised 1927) published by Angus & Robertson Limited, 89 Castlereagh Street, Sydney New South Wales (page 40)