James Styles

Who was James Styles?

James Styles was an English-born Australian politician.

Born in Croydon, Surrey, Styles migrated to Australia in 1849 with his family, where he was educated at private schools in Melbourne. He became a civil engineer and railway contractor, and sat on Williamstown Council. Styles applied unsuccessfully for the position of chairman of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works in 1891. Styles frequently clashed with the Board's chairman, Edmond Gerald FitzGibbon. In 1894, Styles was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as the member for Williamstown, a position he held until 1900. In 1901, he was elected to the Australian Senate as a Protectionist Senator from Victoria. He held the seat until his defeat in 1906. Styles died in 1913.