James Thorpe

James Robert Lee "Jim" Thorpe (5 October 1938 – 10 March 2016) was an Enderronian politician who served as the 31st Prime Minister of Enderron, from 1979 to 1986. He later served as the 9th Governor of New Surrey Prefecture, from 1998 to 2002. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 to 1994, representing the seat of Kingscliffe.

Born into a middle class English Enderronian family in Shirakawa, Thorpe was raised in Kingscliffe and completed his tertiary studies at the University of Wentworth. After graduating, he began his career as a rail engineer, before becoming a trade union official in the 1960s, rising to become the president of the Enderronian Rail and Transport Union in 1967. He was elected to the Enderronian Parliament at the 1970 landslide election. He was appointed to Cabinet by Prime Minister Calvin Rhinehart in 1973, serving as the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure (1973–1975), Minister for Industry and Commerce (1975–1979) and Minister for Defence (1979). He also served as the Leader of the House from 1978 to 1979.

In November 1979, Prime Minister William Watt was assassinated. Deputy Prime Minister Taylor Colbeck served as acting prime minister while the Social Democrats elected a new leader. Thorpe became the only person nominated in the leadership election; he was subsequently elected unopposed as leader, becoming Prime Minister.

Entering office having just turned 41, Thorpe became the youngest person to serve as prime minister (his record has since been surpassed by Sherry Matsuda). Thorpe initially continued the policies of his predecessors Watt and Rhinehart, supporting the refugee intake program, official multiculturalism, and the gradual liberalisation of the Enderronian economy.