Francis James

Francis James

Alfred Francis James (21 April 1918–24 August 1992) was an Australian publisher and eccentric, most famous for being imprisoned in China as a spy.

Early life

James was born in Queenstown, Tasmania, the son of an Anglican priest. His early life was unsettled as his father moved between parishes. In 1934 he started at Canberra Grammar School, meeting his lifelong friend Gough Whitlam (who later became Prime Minister of Australia). He was expelled the next year after a theological dispute with the headmaster. He completed his Leaving Certificate in 1936.

Between 1937 and 1939 James served with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). At the outbreak of World War II, James travelled to Britain and joined the Royal Air Force, enlisting on the last day of the Battle of Britain. After pilot training and operations, he was shot down over France on Anzac Day, 25 April 1942, receiving severe burns to his face and eyes. He was captured, caused a great deal of trouble in German military hospitals and POW camps, and was then repatriated, through Cairo Red Cross, because of his injuries. He was formally invalided out of the Royal Air Force in April 1945 and received a Totally and Permanently Incapacitated pension from the British Government for the rest of his life. In the same month he married Joyce Staff in London.

Publishing career

After returning to Australia, James was employed as a journalist with The Sydney Morning Herald in 1950. He became well known for wearing a black broad-brimmed hat and a cloak.

In 1952, James took over management of "The Anglican", a publication of the Church of England. In 1960, "The Anglican" was subject to a takeover bid by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press (ACP), which culminated in a street brawl in which Packer's forces unsuccessfully attempted to occupy the building.

Controversy continued when in 1964, James was fined 50 pounds for the offensive publication of the "Oz" magazine.

During the 1960s he used "The Anglican" to campaign against the Vietnam War and in 1966 stood as a candidate for the Liberal Reform Group in the federal election. He visited North Vietnam twice.

Imprisonment in China

In 1969, James was arrested in China for alleged spying. The reasons for his behaviour remain unclear, but it is often thought he was playing a practical joke. He was released and expelled in 1973 after lobbying by then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

Francis James died in 1992.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Francis James — (1918–1992) était un éditeur australien excentrique qui s est surtout rendu célèbre en Australie pour avoir été emprisonné en Chine comme espion. James est né le 21 avril 1918 à Queenstown (Tasmanie). Fils d un prêtre anglican, il circula… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Francis James (congressman) — Francis James (April 4, 1799 January 4, 1886) was an Anti Masonic and Whig member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Francis James was born in Thornbury Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He studied law, was admitted to… …   Wikipedia

  • Francis James Newman Rogers — Francis James Newman Rogers, KC (1791–1851), judge and legal writer.BiographyRogers, son of the Rev. James Rogers of Rainscombe, Wiltshire, by Catherine, youngest daughter of Francis Newman of Cadbury House, Somerset, was born in 1791. He was… …   Wikipedia

  • Francis James Gillen — (* 28. Oktober 1855 in Little Para, South Australia; † 5. Juni 1912) war ein früher australischer Anthropologe und Ethnologe. 1867 begann Gillen seine Laufbahn im Staatsdienst als Postbote in Clare. 1871 wurde er nach Adelaide versetzt, wo der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Francis James Roscoe — (1831 ndash; December 20, 1878) was a Canadian entrepreneur and Member of Parliament.Francis Roscoe was born in Liverpool, England and later settled in the Ross Bay area of Victoria, British Columbia. He was the younger brother of poet William… …   Wikipedia

  • Francis James Holland — Francis James Holland,( January 20 1828 – January 27 1907) was a Canon in the Church of England. He was born in St. George, Middlesex, a son of Henry Holland and Margaret Emma Caldwell.He went to Cambridge University in 1846 and ordained in 1851 …   Wikipedia

  • Francis James Grimké — (November 4, 1852 ndash; October 11, 1937) was a Presbyterian minister that was also active in the Niagara Movement and the NAACP. Grimké was the second of three sons born to Henry Grimké and his slave, a woman named Nancy Weston. Henry Grimké… …   Wikipedia

  • Francis James Gillen — Infobox Scientist name = PAGENAME box width = image size =150px caption = PAGENAME birth date = October 28 1855 birth place = Little Para South Australia death date = June 5 1912 death place = residence = citizenship = nationality = Australia… …   Wikipedia

  • FRANCIS, James Goodall (1819-1884) — premier of Victoria was born in London in 1819 and emigrated to Tasmania in 1834. In 1837 he was employed by James Hamilton, a storekeeper at Campbell Town, and three years later was taken into partnership. In October 1840 he visited England to… …   Dictionary of Australian Biography

  • Francis, James Bicheno — born May 18, 1815, Southleigh, Devon, Eng. died Sept. 18, 1892, Lowell, Mass., U.S. British U.S. hydraulic engineer. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1833 and at 22 became chief engineer of the Proprietors of the Locks and Canals on the Merrimack… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”