James Cumes
James William Crawford Cumes (23 August 1922 – 21 November 2013) was an Australian author and economist and a former public servant and diplomat.
James Cumes | |
|---|---|
| Born | James William Crawford Cumes 23 August 1922 Rosewood, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 21 November 2013 (aged 91) Vienna, Austria |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | University of Queensland |
| Occupation | Diplomat, economist, author |
| Spouse(s) | Heide Schulte von Bäuminghaus |
Life and career
Cumes was born in Rosewood, Queensland in August 1922. He was educated at Wooloowin State School and Brisbane Grammar School, before matriculating to the University of Queensland.[1]
During World War II, Cumes was in the Australian Army, and fought on the Kokoda Track.[2]
Over the course of his diplomatic career, Cumes was High Commissioner to Nigeria (1965–1967), Ambassador to Belgium (1975–1977),[3] Ambassador to Austria and Hungary (1977–1980),[4] and Ambassador to the Netherlands (1980–1984).[5]
In his 1988 book A Bunch of Amateurs, Cumes critiqued the performance of Australia's foreign ministers,[6] offering an unfavourable assessment of then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Bill Hayden.[7]
In a review of Cumes' 1990 book How to Become a Millionaire Without Really Working that appeared in The Canberra Times, Peter Bowler praised Cumes for his sunny, cheerful, sensible and interesting take on money-making.[8]
Cumes's wife was Austrian. He moved between houses in Australia, Austria, Monaco and the South of France.[9] He died in Vienna, Austria in November 2013 at the age of 91.[10]
Works
Non-fiction
- The Indigent Rich: A Theory of General Equilibrium in a Keynesian System. Pergamon Press Australia. 1971. ISBN 0080175341.
- Inflation! A Study in Stability. Pergamon Press Australia. 1974. ISBN 0080181678.
- Their Chastity Was Not Too Rigid: Leisure Times in Early Australia. Longman Cheshire. 1979. ISBN 0582714567.
- The Reconstruction of the World Economy. Longman Cheshire. 1984. ISBN 0582714966.
- A Bunch of Amateurs: The Tragedy of Government & Administration in Australia. Sun Books. 1988. ISBN 0725105518.
- How to Become a Millionaire Without Really Working. Sun Books. 1990. ISBN 0725105933.
References
- Ball, Magdalena (22 March 2003), Interview with James Cumes, author of Haverleigh, archived from the original on 3 June 2016
- "James Cumes - On Line Opinion Author". onlineopinion.com.au. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
- "Four new envoys". The Canberra Times. 9 November 1974. p. 8.
- "Envoy". The Canberra Times. 17 October 1977. p. 3.
- "Diplomatic posts". The Canberra Times. 26 January 1980. p. 3.
- Malone, Paul (24 March 1988). "Hayden attacks ex-diplomat". The Canberra Times. p. 1.
- Fuller, Peter; Waterford, Jack (26 March 1988). "Leaders of quality lacking". The Canberra Times. p. 18.
- Bowler, Peter (23 June 1990). "Taken in hook, line and sinker by this book's golden cover". The Canberra Times. p. 24.
- AustLit: J. W. C. Cumes
- Ancestry: James Wiliam Crawford Cumes Crawford grave record
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| New title Position established |
Australian Chargé d'affaires in Belgium 1962–1964 |
Succeeded by Ralph Harry as Ambassador |
| Preceded by L.E. Phillips |
Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria 1965–1967 |
Succeeded by H.D. White |
| Preceded by Allan Eastman |
Australian Ambassador to Belgium 1975–1977 |
Succeeded by James Plimsoll |
| Preceded by Bob Furlonger |
Australian Ambassador to Austria Australian Ambassador to Hungary 1977–1980 |
Succeeded by Duncan Campbell |
| Preceded by David Fairbairn |
Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands 1980–1984 |
Succeeded by Geoffrey Price |
Authority control  |
|---|