James Service


1823 - 1899

Australian politician and businessman. Born in Kilwinning (North Ayrshire), Service went to work for the merchant Thomas Corbett & Co. in Glasgow. He rose to become a partner and was sent to Melbourne (Australia) as a representative of that company in 1853. There he began his own successful business as an importer and wholesale merchant. Having grown wealthy, he became a founder of the Commercial Bank of Australia in 1866.

Service entered politics in 1857, when he was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Victoria. He rose to serve as Premier of Victoria briefly in 1880 and again 1883-86. He was an enthusiast for Australian federation, which finally happened two years after his death. Service died in Melbourne.


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