Norton, James, 1795 – 1862

James Norton (1795-1862), solicitor and parliamentarian, was born in England and after being admitted to practice as a solicitor in England travelled to Sydney where he arrived in 1818. Four solicitors were practising in Sydney when Norton arrived and established a practice.

Norton's legal practice flourished and in 1826 he took William Barker as a partner, trading under the name of Norton and Barker. When Barker retired the company name reverted to James Norton and in 1879, after Norton's death, Robert Smith joined the firm which became Norton and Smith. The company name again changed to Norton, Smith, Westgarth and Sanders but in 1890 became Norton, Smith & Co.

James Norton was nominated to the first Legislative Council under responsible government in 1856 and was responsible for framing many bills. In 1861 his term of office lapsed and due to ill health he took no more part in government.

Norton married firstly Jane, daughter of Alexander Kenneth Mackenzie, in 1824. The couple had eight sons and two daughters before Jane Norton died in 1840. He married secondly in 1843 to Marian, daughter of John Backhouse of Ipswich, England, by whom he had three sons and two daughters. [ref:ADB 2]