He was born in
Melbourne,
Victoria. He was the son of Irish Catholic migrants James Fingleton, a baker, and his wife Mary. The Fingletons moved to
Sydney in 1878 before the death of his parents left Fingleton orphaned at an early age. After a limited education, Fingleton gained work with the
New South Wales Railway and Tramway Department, initially as a tram conductor before his promotion to tram driver. Fingleton also joined the
Labor Party (ALP) and became active in the union movement, eventually becoming a union organiser. ==References==