The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Fincham, James
Fincham, James, Engineer-in-Chief for Tasmania, was born in London in 1838. He was for a number of years employed as Assistant and Resident Engineer' on various railway works in England, in surveys for railways and architectural work in connection with railway stations. In 1872 he went to Tasmania as District Engineer for the Tasmanian Main Line Railway, then in process of construction, and subsequently had charge of the whole line as Engineer. He returned to England in 1876, and was shortly afterwards selected by the Government of Tasmania for the appointment of Engineer-in-Chief for the colony. His appointment dates from April 1877.