James White (19 July 1828 – 13 July 1890) was a pastoralist, politician in colonial New South Wales, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and later, the New South Wales Legislative Council. White was best known as a racehorse owner, breeder and punter.
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Early life
White was born in Stroud, New South Wales, the eldest son of overseer James White and Sarah née Crossman. He was educated at The King's School for four years and then by the Reverend John Gregor at West Maitland. His father died in 1842 when he was aged 13 and still at school. At the age of sixteen he was called upon to manage extensive station properties, including Edinglassie and gradually took up more and more outlying country on his own account, until he became one of the largest and most successful New South Wales squatters. On 9 July 1856 he married Emily Elizabeth Arndell at Merton,
He did a fair share of work in pioneering country on the Barwon, Hunter, and Castlereagh Rivers, and was almost uniformly successful in his enterprises. In 1868 White went to England, and remained away several years, during which time he visited all the principal cities of Europe. He returned to New South Wales in 1873, and purchased Cranbrook, alternating his time between there and Camelot, Kirkham, which was his primary stud known as Kirkham Stables.