James Ramsay (Australian governor)

Sir James Maxwell Ramsay
Queen Street Mall opening by Governor Sir James Ramsay, 1982
20th Governor of Queensland
In office 22 April 1977 – 21 July 1985
Preceded by	Sir Colin Hannah
Succeeded by	Sir Walter Campbell
Personal details
Born	27 August 1916 Hobart, Tasmania
Died	1 May 1986(1986-05-01) (aged 69) Broadbeach, Queensland
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Royal Australian Navy
Years of service	1930–1972
Rank	Commodore
Commands	HMAS Warramunga
Battles/wars	Second World War Korean War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Cross Knight of the Order of St John Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States)

Commodore Sir James Maxwell Ramsay, KCMG, KCVO, CBE, DSC (27 August 1916 – 1 May 1986) was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy and the 20th Governor of Queensland, serving from 22 April 1977 until 21 July 1985.

Ramsay was one of six surviving children. He attended the Macquarie Street State School and The Hutchins School in Hobart. He proved himself to be quite adept at what he attempted in these schools; he was successful in becoming a cadet captain, excelled in Rugby, and was a high achiever in academic and professional subjects. He graduated from the Royal Australian Naval College at Jervis Bay in 1933 and had a distinguished naval career. In 1945 Ramsay attended Royal Naval Staff College, Greenwich, England, and in the same year married Janet Grace Burley. During the Second World War he served on British and Australian ships in the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, and 1972 he retired from the navy. He served as Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia from 1974 until 1977.

Ramsay married Janet Burley, a Red Cross welfare officer, on 24 November 1945 at the parish church, Denham, Buckinghamshire.