James Reading Fairfax (1834 -1919) was the second of John Fairfax's sons to join him in business. When he joined the company it became John Fairfax and Sons. Under the triumvirate of John, Charles and James Fairfax the Sydney Morning Herald developed from a small journal into one of the most influential and respected newspapers in the country. It became a vehicle for conservative opinion, staunchly upholding Protestant Christianity, British monarchy, the rule of law, middle-class values, and the principles of private property and free enterprise capitalism. At the same time it maintained a reputation for balanced political coverage.
Updated 2020
