The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Graves, Hon. James Howlin
Graves, Hon. James Howlin, M.L.A., J.P., second son of the late Captain J. Baker Graves, 14th Light Dragoons, who was a special police magistrate for the disturbed districts of Ireland in 1848, and subsequently a judge in Ceylon, was born at Maryborough, Queen's County, on Dec. 14th, 1827, and educated at Boulogne-sur-Mer. Matriculating at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1847, he studied for the law, which he abandoned for theology; graduated, and completed his professional course in 1852. He married Julia Maria, second daughter of the late Captain J. W. Harvey, Coldstream Guards, a distinguished Waterloo officer. Mr. Graves for some time farmed his own property in Wexford, but on its being sold in the Irish Landed Estates Court to pay off family encumbrances, he emigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in 1864. He at once embarked in pastoral pursuits at Teremia station, near Corowa, N.S.W., and after further commercial and pastoral experience in New South Wales and Victoria was elected to the Assembly for Delatite as a Liberal and moderate Protectionist, and still represents that constituency. He is a J.P. for the colonies of New South Wales and Victoria. Having seconded the vote of want of confidence in the Berry Government in 1881, he was, on Sir Bryan O'Loghlen's accession to power in July of that year, appointed Commissioner of Trade and Customs, and held office till March 1883.