James Huddart

Who was James Huddart?

James Huddart was a shipowner and founder of Huddart Parker Limited.

Huddart was born at Whitehaven, Cumberland, the son of William Huddart, a shipbuilder, and his wife Frances, née Lindow. Huddart was educated at St. Bees School 1856–1860, came to Australia in 1860, and joined the coal and shipowning business of his uncle, Captain Peter Huddart, at Geelong, Victoria. In the mid-1860s Captain Huddart retired to England and James took over the business.

The business had expanded and in 1874 James Huddart was the owner of the Medea, a wooden barque of 423 tons, and next year the Queen Emma of 314 tons was also registered in his name. On 1 August 1876 Huddart joined forces with T.J. Parker, J. Traill, and Captain T. Webb, and the firm of Huddart Parker and Company was founded, each partner had an equal interest. In 1878 the head office was moved to Melbourne, in 1880 several steamships were added to the fleet, and the business expanded rapidly. Huddart became general manager in 1886, and showed himself to be an enterprising and farsighted administrator.