James Foote

James Foote
James Foote, circa 1880
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for West Moreton
In office 18 November 1873 – 26 November 1878
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Bundamba
In office 12 November 1880 – 12 May 1888
Preceded by	William Hendren
Succeeded by	Thomas Glassey
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Rosewood
In office 15 November 1892 – 6 May 1893
Preceded by	Jean Isambert
Succeeded by	James Cribb
Personal details
Born	James Foote 2 March 1829 Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire, England or Calne, Wiltshire, England
Died	4 September 1895 (aged 44) Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Resting place	Ipswich General Cemetery
Nationality	English
Spouse(s)	Catherine Keith (née Cramb)
Occupation	Grocery store owner
Religion	Baptist

James Foote (1829 - 1895) was a politician in Queensland, Australia. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and a mayor of the Borough of Ipswich.

Early life

James Foote was born on 2 March 1829 in either Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire, England or in Calne, Wiltshire, England, the son of Joseph Foote (a hat maker) and his wife Elizabeth (née Clarke).^[1][2][3] In January 1848, his father Joseph emigrated to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) as an agent of the Van Dieman's Land Colonial Mission Society and was appointed the resident Independent minister at Richmond within a few weeks of his arrival. Unfortunately, on 10 September 1848 Joseph died after being seized with an apoplectic fit while preaching the divine service.^[4][5]

He immigrated with his mother, three sisters, his brother John Clarke Foote and his sister-in-law on the Emigrant arriving in Moreton Bay on 12 August 1850.^[2][6] During the voyage, there was an outbreak of typhus and around 20 people died. The ship on arrival in Moreton Bay was placed under quarantine, and was not brought into Brisbane until 28 September 1850.^[7][8][9]

On 21 July 1863, James Foote married Catherine Keith (née Cramb), the widow of James Keith, at Clydebank Cottage, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane.^[10]

After some time, he established a grocery business in Ipswich to which he later added ironmongery.^[2][11]

Politics

Foote was an alderman of Borough of Ipswich in 1866-1869 and 1871 and was mayor of Ipswich in 1870.

Foote was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in the electoral district of West Moreton in the 1873 Queensland colonial election on 18 November 1873. He held the seat until the 1878 election on 15 November 1878.^[12]

On 21 January 1879, following the defeat of the Douglas Ministry, the McIlwraith Ministry was sworn in. The Constitution required all of them to stand down and contest their parliamentary seats at ministerial by-elections. Only one of its members was opposed at election: John Malbon Thompson, the member for Ipswich, who was returned by a narrow majority at the poll on 1 February 1879 against Foote.

On 26 October 1880, William Hendren, the member for Bundamba, resigned following his being declared insolvent. Foote won the resulting by-election on 12 November 1880. He held the seat until 12 May 1888.^[12] He was nominated as a candidate for Bundamba in the 1888 election.^[13] However, on 13 March 1888, he broke his leg when he stood up in his buggy and the horse suddenly moved forward, throwing him backwards.^[14] and after a few weeks decided to withdraw from the contest due to the broken leg.^[2][15]

On 15 October 1892, Jean-Baptiste Isambert, the member for Rosewood, resigned following his being adjudicated as insolvent. Foote won the resulting by-election on 15 November 1892 and held the seat until the 1893 election on 6 May 1893.^[12]

Later life

James Foote died on 4 September 1895 at his residence in Ipswich;^[1] He had been ill for some months prior to his death.^[2] His funeral service the following day (5 September 1895) was an "imposing spectacle". The Ipswich Town Hall had its flag at half-mast, many businesses with which James Foote was associated closed for the day, and there was a very large funeral cortege. Led by the Baptist pastor, Rev. Young, the hearse was followed by all of James Foote's employees walking, James Foote's favourite buggy bearing a pet dog, then 60 to 70 vehicles and a considerable number of horsemen, while many citizens lined the route to the Ipswich General Cemetery, where a graveside service was conducted.^[16]

See also

• Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1873–1878; 1878–1883; 1883–1888; 1888–1893

References

1. "Search death historical records". Queensland Government. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
2. "Death of Mr. James Foote.". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald & General Advertiser. National Library of Australia. 5 September 1895. p. 5. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
3. Ancestry user: rfoot14. "James Foote". Foot family tree. Ancestry.com.
4. "HOBART TOWN.". The Cornwall Chronicle. Launceston, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 15 July 1848. p. 3. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
5. "Family Notices.". The Courier. Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 15 July 1848. p. 2. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
6. Unknown, James Foote, Mayor, 1870, Ipswich, n d, Ipswich Library & Information Service, Ipswich City Council, retrieved 15 January 2014
7. "SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.". The Moreton Bay Courier. Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 12 August 1850. p. 1 Supplement: "Moreton Bay Courier" Extraordinary. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
8. "To the Editor of the Moreton Bay Courier.". The Moreton Bay Courier. Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 7 September 1850. p. 3. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
9. "SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.". The Moreton Bay Courier. Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 28 September 1850. p. 2. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
10. "Family Notices.". The Courier. Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 18 August 1863. p. 5. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
11. "https://www.bdm.qld.gov.au/IndexSearch/querySubmit.m?ReportName=MarriageSearch". Queensland Government. Retrieved 15 January 2014. External link in |title= (help)
12. "Alphabetical Register of Members of the Legislative Assembly 1860-2012 and the Legislative Council 1860-1922" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
13. "The Forthcoming General Election.". Warwick Examiner and Times. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 22 February 1888. p. 2. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
14. "The Brisbane Courier.". The Brisbane Courier. National Library of Australia. 14 March 1888. p. 4. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
15. "Murmurs of the Shell.". Queensland Figaro and Punch. Brisbane, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 7 April 1888. p. 15. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
16. "Funeral of the Late Mr. James Foote.". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald & General Advertiser. National Library of Australia. 7 September 1895. p. 4. Retrieved 15 January 2014.