16 Facts About James Agnew

Sir James Willson Agnew was an Irish-born Australian politician, who was Premier of Tasmania from 1886 to 1887.

James Agnew decided to settle in the west of Port Phillip District, but not enjoying the life, went to Melbourne, where he was offered the position of private secretary to John Franklin, then governor of Van Diemen's Land.

James Agnew sailed for Hobart in 1841 and found that the position had been filled.

James Agnew was appointed assistant surgeon at the Cascades Peninsula.

James Agnew 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".

James Agnew had abandoned practising medicine when he took up political life full-time in 1877.

James Agnew was honorary secretary from 1861 to 1893, and for several years a vice-president.

James Agnew retired from his medical profession and was elected by Hobart to the Tasmanian Legislative Council in 1877.

James Agnew was a member of the Philip Fysh 'Fysh-Giblin' ministry in that year, without portfolio, and was in the William Giblin ministry which succeeded it, and in the second Giblin ministry from October 1879 to February 1881.

James Agnew was then absent from the colony on a long visit to Europe.

At the age of 70 years and 157 days, James Agnew was the oldest person ever to become Premier of Tasmania.

James Agnew's ministry lasted a little more than 12 months and he resigned his post and political life on 29 March 1887.

James Agnew was created KCMG in July 1894, formalized in January 1895.

James Agnew married Louisa Mary Fraser in 1846, who died in 1868.

James Agnew 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.

James Agnew was the founding President of The Art Society of Tasmania, serving for seventeen years.