James Jewell (politician)

[1] Jewell was born in Smithfield West, South Australia, the child of a miner father and schoolteacher mother.

He was employed by a butcher from 1885 to 1888, was briefly a gold miner at Whittlesea, and then worked for the New Northcote Brick Company to 1891.

[1] Jewell was elected to the Legislative Assembly at a 1910 by-election following the resignation of Frank Anstey to enter federal politics.

He soundly defeated incumbent mayor and former MLA Frederick Hickford, who had stood for the conservative Ministerialists.

[2] In a 1914 speech reflecting on his early years, he spoke of his advocacy for reforming the state's treatment of neglected children, opposed the creation of the Country Roads Board, and mentioned that he had taken an active part in the opening of a technical school at Brunswick.