{{Short description|Australian politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Cornelius Job Ham | honorific_suffix = | image = File:Photograph_of_Cornelius_Job_Ham,_Australian_politician.png | caption = | order = 36th Mayor of Melbourne | term_start = 1869 | term_end = 1870 | deputy = | predecessor = George Meares | successor = James Dodgshun | birth_date = 13 January 1837 | birth_place = Birmingham, Warwickshire, | death_date = 10 December 1909 | death_place = Melbourne, Victoria | spouse = | party = }}
'''Cornelius Job Ham''' (13 January 1837 – 10 December 1909) was a politician in colonial Victoria (Australia), mayor of Melbourne 1881–82 and a member of the Victorian Legislative Council 1882–1904.<ref name=adb> {{Australian Dictionary of Biography |first=Ian F. |last=McLaren |title=Ham, Cornelius Job (1837–1909) |id2=ham-cornelius-job-3905 |access-date=23 December 2013 }}</ref>
Ham born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, youngest son of Rev. John Ham<ref name=Mennell>{{cite Australasia|Ham, Hon. Cornelius Job}}</ref> and his wife Ann Job, ''née'' Tonkin.<ref name=adb/>
In 1842 the family arrived in the Port Phillip District (colony of Victoria from 1851) and John Ham became the first pastor of Collins Street Baptist Chapel, Melbourne.<ref name=Mennell/> Cornelius Ham's eldest brother, Jabez, was one of the first editors of ''The Age'', Melbourne.<ref name=Mennell/>
Cornelius Ham started business as a land and estate agent in Melbourne in 1855, and was Mayor of Melbourne in 1881–82.<ref name=Mennell/> In November 1882 he stood for Melbourne Province in the Victorian Legislative Council in opposition to the late Dr. Beaney and George Selth Coppin, and was triumphantly returned,<ref name=Mennell/> being sworn in in December 1882 and holding the seat until May 1904.<ref>{{cite re-member |num2=546 |name=Cornelius Job Ham |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref> Ham accepted a seat in the James Munro Ministry without portfolio in November 1890, and was sworn of the Executive Council.<ref name=Mennell/> Twelve months later he resigned office after voting against the Government Bill establishing the one man one vote principle, but resumed office on the measure being abandoned.<ref name=Mennell/> In February 1892, however, when the Ministry was reconstructed under William Shiels, he left the Cabinet. He married in 1868 Hattie, daughter of John Latham, of West Virginia, U.S.A., formerly United States Consul-General in Melbourne.<ref name=Mennell/>
Ham died in Armadale, Victoria, Australia on 10 December 1909, survived by three sons and six daughters.<ref name=adb/> He was the grandfather of Ainslie Meares.
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ham, Cornelius Job}} Category:1837 births Category:1909 deaths Category:Members of the Victorian Legislative Council Category:English emigrants to colonial Australia Category:Mayors and lord mayors of Melbourne Category:Politicians from Birmingham, West Midlands Category:19th-century mayors of places in Australia Category:British emigrants to the Colony of Victoria Category:Politicians from the Colony of Victoria