James Stodart was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in Logan in a by-election on 15 August 1896.

[1][2] James Stodart married Elizabeth Henrietta Noble Gair in Melbourne in 1878.

He was uncle to her sons architect Robin Dods and government medical officer Espie Dods from her first marriage to Robert Smith Dods and brother-in-law to her second husband Charles Ferdinand Marks, a Member of the Queensland Legislative Council and uncle to her sons Alexander Marks and Edward Marks from her second marriage.

[3] Stodart's daughter, Nina pursued art and taught at Brisbane Girls Grammar School and Somerville House.

[3][5] Photo albums from the Stodart family are held in the University of Queensland Library, including images from Robert Stodart's World War 1 service.