His father, also named James Larcombe, was a butcher, and his mother was Mary (née Lee).

[2] As a young man, he worked as a butcher with his father and was active in the local labor movement.

At the 1929 election, he was defeated by Daniel Owen of the Country and Progressive National Party.

Again he served in a number of ministries:[3] He held the seat of Rockhampton until his retirement at the 1956 election.

Combining his service in Keppel and Rockhampton makes him the assembly's longest serving member with 40 years 11 months 22 days; however, Joh Bjelke-Petersen has the longest period of continuous service (40 years 6 months 28 days).