James Fenton Politician

James Edward Fenton CMG (4 February 1864 – 2 December 1950) was an Australian politician. He is notable for having been appointed a cabinet minister by two governments of different political complexions, but resigning from both governments on matters of principle, as well as acting as prime minister of Australia for several months in the early 1930s.Born at Nette Yallock, near Avoca, Victoria, Fenton was educated at a local school. At 13 he became a printer's apprentice with the Avoca Mail and later became a compositor in the Government Printing Office in Melbourne, but lost his job in the 1893 depression. In 1887, he married Elizabeth Jane Harvey. He was editor of the Broadford Courier from 1894 to 1903, and managing director of the Co-operative Dairyman from 1904 to 1910.