James Cock was a politician in colonial South Australia. Cock was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, and was the youngest son of Robert Cock, whose family emigrated to South Australia on, one of the First Fleet of South Australia, under Captain Hindmarsh. James accompanied his parents to Mount Gambier and after marriage lived at Suttontown, then purchased a valuable farm at Torrensdale, later occupied by J. P. Kennedy. He also had a carrying business, and with his brother John got the contract to construct part of the telegraph line from Mount Gambier to Adelaide. In 1864 he left for Bowen, Queensland, where he carried on business for about three years, then returned to "The Mount", and resumed farming, also working with his brother John as a contractor. He took up a large area of land in the Millicent area, but he lost much of his cattle and sheep to disease and was forced to relinquish the property. He then went into business as an agent and produce merchant in Mount Gambier. James Cock was a councillor of Mount Gambier West for two terms, and was an active member of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society. In every capacity be displayed the highest integrity, and was esteemed and trusted by everyone in the district. He was a prominent member of the Mount Gambier Wesleyan Methodist church, and for nearly 40 years a lay preacher. He was a leader of the temperance movement and a total abstainer for 46 years. He joined the Rechabites around 1865. He was appointed justice of the peace. He stood for election to the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Victoria at the by-election of October 1888 brought about by the death of the Daniel Livingston, but was unsuccessful. He stood again at the next general election and was successful, and served from April 1890. Towards the end of his third term his health gave way, and he was forced to apply for an extended leave of absence, and retired when Parliament expired in April 1899. His colleagues during his parliamentary career were John Osman, George Riddoch and James Toulmin Morris. He died after several years of poor health and a series of strokes which prevented him leaving his home for several months, and was mostly confined to bed.
Family
James Cock was the son of Robert Cock and his second wife, Catherine née Christie, who married on 28 May 1832 in Abdie, Fife, Scotland; Robert and Catherine emigrated to South Australia in 1836 on with the children of both wives. James Cock married Magdalene Williams on 4 October 1861
His grandfather, also named Robert Cock arrived in South Australia on the Catherine Jamieson in December 1838. William Owen was his uncle, William and Christian née Cock arrived with her his uncles Alexander and James Cock in November 1838 on the Rajasthan, chartered by his father.
