James Inglis (politician)


James Inglis was a tea merchant, writer and politician in colonial New South Wales.
Inglis was the son of Rev. Robert Inglis, M.A., by his marriage with Helen Brand, was born at Edzell, Forfarshire, Scotland, and educated at University of Edinburgh. He visited New Zealand in 1864, went to India at the end of 1866, and to Australia after extensive travel and work in India and the East, in search of health. At the end of 1877 he saw considerable official service in India; was Famine Commissioner in Bhangulpore in 1875, and Executive Commissioner for the Government of India to the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880–81.
Having settled in New South Wales, he was returned to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for New England in 1885, and was Minister of Public Instruction in the Parkes ministry from January 1887 to January 1889.

"Waltzing Matilda"

His company James Inglis & Co marketed the brand Billy Tea, to advertise which Banjo Paterson's song Waltzing Matilda was adapted to words and music which were very popular and came to be known as Australia's "unofficial national anthem".

Publications

Inglis wrote to the press under the signature "Maori," and, in 1879, served as editor of the Newcastle Morning Herald. His books included:
Inglis married Mary Nichol in Sydney in October 1879. She died in 1903. On 13 December 1905 he married Ethel Kate Mason, née Macpherson, who survived him. There were no children from either marriage.
Inglis died in Strathfield, Sydney, of kidney disease on 15 October 1908 and was buried in the Presbyterian section of Rookwood cemetery.