The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Lorimer, Hon. Sir James
Lorimer, Hon. Sir James, K.C.M.G., M.L.C., was born in Dumfriesshire in 1831, and educated at Hatton House Academy in that county. After acquiring mercantile experience in an American house in Liverpool, he arrived in Victoria in 1853, and founded the firm of Lorimer, Mackie & Co., agents for the White Star Line, the designation of the firm being subsequently changed to Lorimer, Marwood & Rome, and more recently to Lorimer, Rome & Co. Sir James in his early political career was a Liberal-Conservative and free trader, entering the Legislative Council, in which he held a seat till his death, for the Central Province in 1878. He was twice President of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce, and was the first Chairman of the Melbourne Harbour Trust. In Feb. 1886, when the Gillies Ministry was formed, he accepted the post of Minister of Defence, and was sworn of the Executive Council. In the next year he was associated with Mr. Deakin and Sir Graham Berry as one of the Victorian representatives to the Colonial Conference in London, and was created K.C.M.G. during his visit. Whilst in England he did much useful work in connection with defence matters. He died in Melbourne on Sept. 6th, 1889.