[1] James Turquand Laidley was born in 1823 in Sydney, New South Wales, the son of James Laidley and Eliza Jane (née Shepheard).

[1] Laidley acquired Western Creek Station on the Darling Downs in 1848.

From 1849 to 1879 he was in partnership with his brother-in-law Henry Mort (married to Laidley's sister Maria) in a pastoral property called Franklyn Vale at Mount Mort, Queensland.

[1] Laidley was appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council on the 1 May 1860 and served until his resignation on the 16 August 1864.

[1] Laidley died on 29 March 1877 at his home at Ocean Street, Woollahra, Sydney, aged 53 years old.