James Ramsay (governor)

Commodore Sir James Maxwell Ramsay (27 August 1916 – 1 May 1986) served as Governor of Queensland, Australia from 22 April 1977 until 21 July 1985.

Ramsay was one of six surviving children. He attended the Macquarie Street State School and The Hutchins School in Hobart. He proved himself to be quite adept at what he attempted in these schools; he was successful in becoming a cadet captain, excelled in Rugby, and was a high achiever in academic and professional subjects. He graduated from the Royal Australian Naval College at Jervis Bay in 1933 and had a distinguished naval career. In 1945 Ramsay attended Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, England, and in the same year married Janet Grace Burley. During World War II he served on British and Australian ships in the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, and 1972 he retired from the Navy. He served as Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia from 1974 until 1977.

Ramsay married Janet Burley, a Red Cross welfare officer, on 24 November 1945 at the parish church, Denham, Buckinghamshire.

Honours and decorations