James O'Grady

James O'Grady

Sir James O'Grady (born May 6, 1866 in Bristol , England , † December 10, 1934 in London ) was an English Labor Party politician , trade unionist and governor of Tasmania and the Falkland Islands .

Life

O'Grady grew up in Bristol as the child of Roman Catholic parents from Ireland . He left school at the age of 10, worked and later trained as a carpenter. He was also involved in the union and in 1898 became chairman of the Trades Union Congress . In 1906 he was elected to the House of Commons , where he was interested in foreign policy. He was an advocate for World War I and campaigned at recruitment meetings to enlist for military service.

After the war, he was the first British ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1924 , but was then appointed governor of Tasmania instead. At the time, the governorship was not very popular, especially as it was paid relatively little due to Tasmania's poor economic condition. After lengthy negotiations, O'Grady finally accepted the post and arrived on the island in December 1924. Since his wife Louisa, whom he married in 1887, could not make the trip due to a disability, he was accompanied by his daughter Margaret.

During his tenure, he tried to stimulate Tasmania's economy and stop the increasing emigration. He encouraged industrialization and the use of modern agricultural techniques, and urged the population to invest their money in their own businesses instead of abroad.

In December 1930 he left Tasmania at the end of his term and subsequently became governor of the Falkland Islands. In 1934 he resigned there due to his poor health and died a little later in London.

Awards

• Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (1924)

literature

Michael Roe: O'Grady, Sir James . In: Douglas Pike (Ed.): Australian Dictionary of Biography . Melbourne University Press, Carlton (Victoria) 1966–2012 (English).

predecessor	Office	successor
Arnold Hodgson	Governor of the Falkland Islands 1931–1934	Herbert Heaton