Background
Ham born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, youngest son of Review John Ham and his wife Ann Job, née Tonkin.
Member of the Victorian Legislative Council
Ham born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, youngest son of Review John Ham and his wife Ann Job, née Tonkin.
In 1842 the family arrived in the Portuguese Phillip District (colony of Victoria from 1851) and John Ham became the first pastor of Collins Street Baptist Chapel, Melbourne. Cornelius Ham"s eldest brother, Jabez, was one of the first editors of The Age, Melbourne. Cornelius Ham started business as a land and estate agent in Melbourne in 1855, and was Mayor of Melbourne in 1881-1882.
In November 1882 he stood for Melbourne Province in the Victorian Legislative Council in opposition to the late Doctor Beaney and George Selth Coppin, and was triumphantly returned, being sworn-in in December 1882 and holding the seat until May 1904.
Ham accepted a seat in the James Munro Ministry without portfolio in November 1890, and was sworn of the Executive Council. 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.
In February 1892, however, when the Ministry was reconstructed under William Shiels, he left the Cabinet.