Service was born in
Kilwinning,
Ayrshire,
Scotland, the son of Robert Service. As a young man James worked in a
Glasgow tea importing business, Thomas Corbett and Company. Service was elected to the
Victorian Legislative Assembly for
Melbourne in a by-election in March 1857, retaining this seat until August 1859. His attempt to cut tariffs in his 1875 budget led to the fall of Kerferd's government. When
Graham Berry's radical ministry fell in March 1880, Service formed a minority government. In 1888 he was elected to the
Victorian Legislative Council for
Melbourne Province, and served there until April 1899. ==References==