Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/McCulloch, James
McCULLOCH, Sir JAMES (1819–1893), Australian politician, son of George McCulloch of Glasgow, was born there in 1819. He entered early the office of Messrs. Dennistoun & Co., who in 1853 sent him to Melbourne to open a branch of their business. The Adelaide, in which he sailed, took fire in the Bay of Biscay, and the passengers were exposed to great peril.
In 1854 McCulloch entered the then single chamber of Victoria as a nominee-member, and early in 1857 was elected for Wimmera to the first elective legislative assembly, where he took his seat at first on the cross benches. In April 1857 Sir John O'Shanassy's ministry fell, and McCulloch was invited to form a government—in which he did not take the position of premier, but the portfolio of trade and customs. In March 1858 he resigned. After a visit to England he was elected in the autumn of the same year for East Melbourne; and in October 1859 he accepted the post of treasurer in Sir W. Nicholson's administration, which held office for a year. He visited England again at the end of 1860, and was absent for most of the next two sessions. In 1862 he joined Mr. Sellar in founding, in succession to Dennistoun & Co., the business which bears their joint names, and the same year on his return to the colony he was again elected to the assembly for Mornington.
In June 1863 he formed a coalition with his old opponent Heales, and became for the first time premier of the colony, being chief secretary for a short time, and then for four sessions postmaster-general. This ministry was considered the strongest ever formed in Victoria up to that time; and it held office during times of peculiar excitement. It adopted the proposals of Mr. Treasurer Verdon for a moderate protective tariff, and came into collision with the free-trade legislative council, which threw out the supplies. In the next session the collision was repeated, and McCulloch appealed to the country. Coming back with a large majority in February 1866, he again came to a deadlock with the council and again resigned in May. The governor could get no one else to form a ministry, and on McCulloch's return to power a conference between the houses adjusted the difference for a time. The dispute was renewed owing to the intervention of the home government in the interest of the council. Sir Charles Darling was recalled on the ground of alleged partisanship with McCulloch's ministry, and McCulloch proposed to vote him 20,000l. as a compensation. The legislative council took the side of the crown, and a fierce struggle ensued. The dissolution of the house only sent back the government stronger than before; but the fresh intervention of the home government caused the resignation of McCulloch's ministry, and matters were only settled by the refusal of Sir C. Darling to accept the proffered grant.
In July 1868, after being for a few months out of power, McCulloch became premier for a second time, holding the posts of treasurer and chief secretary. He resigned in September 1869, after receiving the honour of knighthood on the occasion of the Duke of Edinburgh's visit. In April 1870 he again became premier, holding the same posts as before; but in the following year he was defeated because he declined to increase the protective duties any further.
McCulloch acted as agent-general for the colony in London during 1872 and 1873, and in 1874 he was made a K.C.M.G. For a time he returned to the colony, and became premier on 20 Oct. 1875; but his fourth tenure of office was obstructed by the ‘stonewalling’ tactics of Sir Graham Berry, who maintained that the government majority did not really reflect the people's will. McCulloch introduced the ‘closure’ rule with a view to meeting his opponents, but his party was utterly defeated at the general election in May 1877. On the assembling of the new house McCulloch, who had been elected for Warrnambool, found himself practically without followers, and shortly after retired from parliamentary life, settling in England.
He was twice president of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce as well as director of several banks and public companies. He took especial interest in the National Gallery of Victoria, and a considerable part in the selection of pictures for it.
McCulloch died on 31 Jan. 1893 at his residence, Garband Hall, Ewell, Surrey. He was twice married: first, in 1841, to Susan, daughter of the Rev. James Renwick of Muirton; secondly, in 1867, to Margaret, daughter of William Inglis of Walflat, Dumbarton, who survived him.
[Heaton's Austr. Dict. of Dates; Mennell's Dict. of Austr. Biog.; Victorian Parl. Debates.]