James (Stoppy) Stopford (22 July 1878 – 30 November 1936) was an Australian miner, union organiser and Labor politician from Mount Morgan, Queensland. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Mount Morgan from 1915 until 1932, and then Maryborough until his death in 1936.
James Stopford | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Mount Morgan | |
| In office 22 May 1915 – 11 June 1932 | |
| Preceded by | James Crawford |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Maryborough | |
| In office 11 June 1932 – 30 November 1936 | |
| Preceded by | John Blackley |
| Succeeded by | William Demaine |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Stopford 22 July 1878 Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 30 November 1936 (aged 58) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Resting place | Toowong Cemetery |
| Political party | Labor |
| Spouse | Ellen Williams (d. 1930) |
| Occupation | Miner |
Early life edit
James Stopford was born on 22 July 1878 in Rockhampton, the son of John Joshua Stopford and his wife Elizabeth (née Wilson). His family moved to Mount Morgan when he was two years old. He attended Mount Morgan State School.[1]
James Stopford commenced his working life as a miner and engine driver at the Mount Morgan Mine. He was an active member of the Labor Party and the Australian Workers Union and was dismissed by the company for his union activity. He later become an organiser for the union and a member of the branch executive for the party.[2]
He married Ellen Williams in 1901.[3]
Politics edit
A member of the Australian Labour Party, James Stopford contested the newly created electorate of Mount Morgan in the 1912 election but was unsuccessful (Ministerialist James Crawford was elected). However, he was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in the Mount Morgan in the 1915 election and held the seat until the 1932 election. During that time, he was a Minister without Office from 6 October 1922 to 2 July 1923 and then Home Secretary from 2 July 1923 to 21 May 1929.[1][4][5]
At the 1932 state election, the seat of Mount Morgan was abolished and absorbed into Fitzroy, so Stopford decided to contest Maryborough against the sitting member John Blackley of the Country and Progressive National Party.[4][5][6] As part of a statewide swing to the Labor Party, Stopford was elected with a majority of 6,000 in Maryborough.[7] Stopford held Maryborough in the 1935 election. While representing Maryborough, Stopford was appointed Secretary for Mines from 17 June 1932.
Death edit
Stopford was admitted to the Mater Misericordiae Hospital on 16 September 1936 with a serious condition described as "blood pressure" at the time but later as a "severe haemorrhage".[8][9] He was released from hospital in early October for further recuperation at his home in Coorparoo.[10] Although he briefly attended Parliament and a Cabinet meeting, he remained too ill to undertake his regular duties and went to Southport for further recuperation.[11] On 30 November 1936, he suffered further haemorrhaging at Southport and was rushed by ambulance to the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Brisbane, where he died later that day.[9]
A state funeral was held at St Stephen's Cathedral in Brisbane on 1 December 1936 after which he was buried in Toowong Cemetery. His wife and daughter predeceased him.[9]
Legacy edit
In 1936, The Worker said that Stopford's greatest contribution was through his efforts to provide for miners who were suffering from miner's phthisis.[2] Labor candidate William Demaine won the resulting by-election in Maryborough on 27 February 1937.[4]
References edit
- ^ a b "Stopford, Hon James (Stoppy)". Re-Member Database. Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- ^ a b "HEAVY TOLL". The Worker. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 1 December 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ Queensland Index of Marriages 1901/C1788
- ^ a b c "Part 2.15 – Alphabetical Register of Members of the Legislative Assembly 1860–2017 and the Legislative Council 1860–1922" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2015–2017: The 55th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b "Representatives of Queensland State Electorates 1860-2017" (PDF). Queensland Parliamentary Record 2012-2017: The 55th Parliament. Queensland Parliament. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- ^ "163 CANDIDATES". The Queensland Times. Ipswich, Queensland: National Library of Australia. 29 April 1932. p. 5 Edition: DAILY. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "LABOUR SWEEPS THE POLL WITH RECORD MAJORITY". Sunday Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 12 May 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "MR. STOPFORD ILL". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 18 September 1936. p. 16. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ a b c "SUDDEN DEATH OF". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 1 December 1936. p. 13. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "PERSONAL". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 8 October 1936. p. 17. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "PERSONAL". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane: National Library of Australia. 26 November 1936. p. 19. Retrieved 22 December 2014.