18 Facts About James Catts

James Howard Catts was an Australian politician, unionist and businessman.

James Catts was the son of Amy and James Catts; his father was a joiner and grocer.

James Catts was raised by his paternal grandfather in Sydney, living in Stanmore and attending the Macdonaldtown public school.

James Catts returned to live with his parents in Orange at the age of thirteen.

James Catts helped in the family business and worked as a labourer and shearers' cook.

James Catts was organising secretary of the New South Wales Temperance Alliance, and held other prominent positions in railway unions.

James Catts became the youngest member of the Australian House of Representatives in 1906 when he was elected to the seat of Cook at the age of 28, and became associated with King O'Malley and Billy Hughes.

James Catts became known as a protectionist and nationalist in Parliament.

On 18 August 1910, James Catts was suspended from the House of Representatives for one day, the first member to be suspended.

James Catts was director of the Federal and State Labor campaigns in New South Wales from 1914 to 1922.

James Catts was an opponent of communism and conscription, and was prosecuted for asserting that Japan hoped to annexe Australia.

James Catts married for the second time on 8 September 1920, again at Sydney, Dorothy Marguerite Purcell.

James Catts was expelled from the Labor Party in 1922 having been accused of sectarianism, and unsuccessfully ran at the elections for the Majority Labor Party.

James Catts continued to be active in the Labor Party, running unsuccessfully as the Federal Labor candidate for Martin in 1931.

James Catts was opposed to the Lang Labor Party, but unsuccessfully ran in East Sydney in 1940 as a United Australia Party candidate.

James Catts died on 26 November 1951 at Huntleys Point, and was survived by his second wife, their son and three daughters.

James Catts married Eva Alice Weber in 1907, with whom he had one son.

James Catts died on 26 November 1951 at Huntleys Point, New South Wales, aged 74.