James Mitchell (Australian politician)

rdf:langString James Mitchell (Australian politician)

rdf:langString Sir James Mitchell

rdf:langString Sir James Mitchell

rdf:langString Glen Mervyn siding, Mumballup, Western Australia, Australia

rdf:langString Dardanup, Western Australia, Australia

rdf:langString Sir William CampionNone

rdf:langString Sir William Ellison-MacartneySir Francis Newdegate

rdf:langString George V

rdf:langString Premier of Western Australia

rdf:langString Governor of Western Australia

rdf:langString Clara Robinson Spencer

rdf:langString Premier of Western Australia

rdf:langString Sir James Mitchell, GCMG (27 April 1866 – 26 July 1951) was an Australian politician. He served as premier of Western Australia from 1919 to 1924 and from 1930 to 1933, as leader of the Nationalist Party. He then held viceregal office from 1933 to 1951, as acting governor from 1933 to 1948 and governor of Western Australia from 1948 until his death in 1951. Mitchell was born to a farming family in Dardanup, Western Australia. He became manager of the Western Australian Bank's Northam branch. He was first elected to the Parliament of Western Australia in 1905 and held the seat of Northam for nearly three decades. Mitchell rose quickly to ministerial office where he was a keen advocate of agricultural development. He favoured government support of primary industry and sought to use assisted migration and soldier settlement to supply the necessary labour. Mitchell first became premier in 1919 after a period of instability in state politics, governing in coalition with the Country Party despite earlier conflict. His first term saw minor social reforms and development initiatives, but was primarily known for the Group Settlement Scheme which established the South West dairy industry. Mitchell won the 1921 state election but was defeated in 1924. He returned as premier in 1930 at the height of the Great Depression, but suffered a landslide defeat three years later and lost his own seat. He notably authorised a secession referendum in 1933. After losing office, Mitchell was appointed lieutenant-governor by his successor Philip Collier. The office of governor was left vacant during the Great Depression as a cost-saving measure, with Mitchell serving as acting governor until being formally commissioned in the role in 1948. He died in office in 1951.