FULTON, JAMES (1830-91), the son of Major Robert Bell Fulton, of the Bengal Artillery, and of Lisburn, County Antrim, was born at Futtyghur, India. He was taken to Ireland as a boy, and was educated at Cheltenham and Blackheath. He received training in surveying and engineering under Sir Digby Mackworth and for a while held an appointment in connection with the Huddersfield and Manchester railway. At 18 years of age Fulton sailed for New Zealand in the ship Ajax (Sep 1848) with the intention of being a farmer. Shortly after his arrival he took charge of Valpy's mill at the Leith. He then went on a farm at West Taieri and then far in the backblocks. Fulton in 1852 married Catherine Henrietta Valpy. For many years he was resident magistrate at Port Chalmers, Dunedin, and Outram. On retiring from the bench he was a member and first chairman of the Taieri county council.

In 1879 Fulton was elected to Parliament for the Taieri constituency (defeating Snow by 319 votes to 178). In 1882 he was returned unopposed; in 1884 and 1887 he defeated Carncross. He was for many years a member of the waste lands committee, and was chairman of the petitions committee which unseated Grey for Christchurch. A strong supporter of the Atkinson Government, he could have been Minister of Lands had he wished. In 1889 Fulton was chairman of the sweating commission which investigated conditions existing in Dunedin. He was keenly interested in the welfare of the workers. Sympathetic, upright, courteous and conscientious, he was a high type of citizen. Retiring from the House, he accepted a call to the Legislative Council (Jan 1891). Fulton was a member of the Otago education board for some years and a life governor of the Otago Boys' High School; and from 1876 until his death was a member of the council of Otago University. He was always a strong advocate of Bible-reading in schools. In Parliament he was a recognised leader of the movement for women's franchise and a strong supporter of temperance. Fulton died on 30 Nov 1891.

Cycl. NZ, iv (p); Hocken; McIndoe; Cox; N.Z. Times, 1 Dec 1891; Otago Daily Times, 21 Nov 1891, 8 Aug 1930 (p). Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 159

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