McGirr, James, 1890 – 1957

James McGirr (1890-1957), pharmacist, parliamentarian and Premier of NSW, was born at Parkes, NSW, son of John and Mary McGirr. He was educated at St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst, before being apprenticed to his brother as a pharmacist at the age of sixteen. McGirr was registered as a pharmacist in 1913 and worked in Sydney and Parkes. He joined the Shop Assistants' Union of NSW and was active in Labor politics having joined the Parkes Branch of the Labor Party in 1906.

In 1922 McGirr's brother Greg McGirr vacated his seat of Cootamundra in the NSW Legislative Assembly for a Sydney electorate and organised for his brother to gain selection for the seat of Cootamundra. McGirr was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly for the seats of Cootamundra (1922-1925), Cumberland (1925-1927), Blacktown (1927-1950), and Liverpool (1950-1952). McGirr was Premier of NSW between 1947 and 1952.