  sir walter hartwell james kcmg kc (29 march 1863 &ndash; 3 january 1943) was the fifth premier of western australia and an ardent supporter of the federation movement. walter james was born on 29 march 1863 in perth, in what was then the british colony of western australia. he was educated at perth boys school and later at perth high school (now hale school). after his father's death, his mother remarried to george randell, a member of the legislative council. james was thus the step-brother of ernest randell, who later played cricket for western australia. in his youth, james worked as a jackaroo at de grey station in the pilbara, but after being shipwrecked off rottnest island in 1883 on his way to the pilbara, he turned to the legal profession. he was articled to george leake in 1883, and was admitted to the western australian bar in 1888. shortly afterwards he went into partnership with leake. james also played football for the rovers football club in the west australian football association.survivor of a famous team â the west australian. published 30 april 1952. retrieved from trove, 9 november 2011. he later served as secretary of the association.w.a. football association â the west australian. published 16 may 1891. retrieved from trove, 9 november 2011. on 21 june 1892, he married eleanora marie gwenifryd hearder. from 1890 to 1896, james represented central ward on perth city council. in 1894 he was elected to the legislative assembly seat of east perth. james sat in the legislative assembly 
1863_births 1943_deaths Agents-General_for_Western_Australia Attorneys-General_of_Western_Australia Australian_knights Burials_at_Karrakatta_Cemetery Knights_Bachelor Knights_Commander_of_the_Order_of_St_Michael_and_St_George Members_of_the_Western_Australian_Legislative_Assembly People_educated_at_Hale_School Premiers_of_Western_Australia Rovers_Football_Club_players University_of_Western_Australia_chancellors West_Australian_Football_League_administrators Western_Australian_local_government_politicians