People Australia

James William Dunning Spicer (1845-1917) compositor, trade union official and alderman 

Birth: 4 August 1845 at Woolloomooloo, Sydney, New South Wales, son of Thomas William Spicer (1798-1847), a soldier, later shopkeeper, auctioneer and hotelier, born at Potton, Bedfordshire, England, and his second wife Ann Maria, née Cox (1812-1879), born at Holborn, Middlesex, England. Marriage: 1870 at Woolloomooloo, Sydney to Sarah Duncan Larter (1848-1906). They had six daughters and four sons. Death: 31 July 1917 on way to Balmain Hospital, Drummoyne, Sydney. Religion: Presbyterian. 

• His father, who had come to NSW as a soldier in the 3rd Regiment (Buffs) with his first wife aboard the Princess Royal in 1823 and spent time in Tasmania and New Zealand, died when James, the youngest of his eleven children by two wives, was aged two. In July 1848 his father's widow married Gerritt Hendrick Middenway (1810-1875), a bricklayer, later engine-driver at the Sydney Morning Herald office, born at Demerara, Guyana, who had come to Sydney as a convict and was described in convict records as “half cast”. They had three children. James's step-father probably helped to raise him and influenced his choice of occupation.
• James was apprenticed in printing to Waugh and Co., stationers and printers in Sydney, for two years. Transferred (with the plant) to F. Cunninghame and Co. in Sydney and in 1865 finished his apprenticeship and continued to work as a journeyman with the firm for one year.
• Journeyman, sub-overseer and acting part of the time as overseer with John Sands for 28 years. Returned to F. Cunninghame and Co. and stayed for 10 years. Later worked with W. C. Penfold and Co.
• Joined Typographical Association in 1866. When it folded and the new Typographical Association emerged, he joined it and was vice-president for several terms and president from 1901 to 1905. Retired from the Board of Management only a few months before his death.
• Involved in various strikes. Was association delegate to Printing Trades Federation Council for seventeen years and president for fourteen years. Association delegate on NSW Labor Council for 12 years. Executive member of Trades Hall Association for 22 years and president and land trustee.
• Association delegate on Eight-Hour Demonstration Committee for 6 years being president in 1898, trustee in 1899, vice-president in 1900.
• Took an interest in the Protectionist movement and was associated with Edward William O’Sullivan and (Sir) William Lyne.
• After the 1890 maritime strike he was a foundation member of the Political Labour Party in its first meeting in Redfern Town Hall and in 1900-1904 was president. Treasurer of the first Redfern Labor Electoral League.
• Nominated for selection to contest seat in Parliament in 1891 but declined to stand. Was an alderman on the Waterloo Municipal Council, the borough in which he resided, from 1885 to 1890.
• Represented the Typographical Association as delegate on the Political Labor League for eighteen years. Assisted in gaining the passing of the Art Union Act.
• Commissioned justice of the peace. Was a director of Sydney Hospital.
• Cause of death: myocarditis, atheroma and acute dilatation of the heart. His estate was sworn for probate at £1338.

Sources
Official Souvenir of Eight-Hour Demonstration. 1900; Australasian Typographical Journal, 14 September 1915 pp. 10-13; Printing Trades Journal, 21 August 1917.