Jump to content

James Ramsay (governor)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir James Maxwell Ramsay
Ramsay at Governor's Mansion, 1978
20th Governor of Queensland
In office
22 April 1977 – 21 July 1985
MonarchElizabeth II
PremierSir Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded bySir Colin Hannah
Succeeded bySir Walter Campbell
Personal details
Born27 August 1916
Hobart, Tasmania
Died1 May 1986(1986-05-01) (aged 69)
Broadbeach, Queensland
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceRoyal Australian Navy
Years of service1930–1972
RankCommodore
CommandsHMAS Warramunga
Battles/warsSecond World War
Korean War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Knight Bachelor
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Cross
Knight of the Order of St John
Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States)

Sir James Maxwell Ramsay (27 August 1916 – 1 May 1986) was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy and the 20th Governor of Queensland, serving from 22 April 1977 until 21 July 1985.[1]

Biography

[edit]

Ramsay was one of six surviving children. He attended the Macquarie Street State School and The Hutchins School in Hobart. He proved himself to be quite adept at what he attempted in these schools; he was successful in becoming a cadet captain, excelled in Rugby, and was a high achiever in academic and professional subjects.[2] Appointed a naval cadet on 1 January 1930,[3] he graduated from the Royal Australian Naval College at Flinders Naval Depot in 1933 and was appointed a midshipman on 1 May 1934.[4] He had a distinguished naval career. In 1945 Ramsay attended Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, England, and in the same year married Janet Grace Burley. During the Second World War he served on British and Australian ships in the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, and 1972 he retired from the navy.[2] He served as Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia from 1974 until 1977.[5]

Ramsay married Janet Burley, a Red Cross welfare officer, on 24 November 1945 at the parish church, Denham, Buckinghamshire.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Queensland Governors". Queensland Government. 5 August 2003. Archived from the original on 5 March 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  2. ^ a b c White, M.W. D. "Ramsay, Sir James Maxwell (1916–1986)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Naval Forces of the Commonwealth". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 2. 9 January 1930. p. 22.
  4. ^ "Naval Forces of the Commonwealth". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. 62. 13 September 1934. p. 1590.
  5. ^ "Former governor dies". The Australian. 2 May 1986. p. 12.
Government offices
Preceded by Governor of Queensland
1977–1985
Succeeded by