James Larcombe was born in Rockhampton, Queensland on 25 April 1884. His father, also named James Larcombe, was a butcher, and his mother was Mary (née Lee). He was educated at the Jenkins private school in Rockhampton.[2] As a young man, he worked as a butcher with his father and was active in the local labor movement.
He held the seat of Rockhampton until his retirement at the 1956 election.
Combining his service in Keppel and Rockhampton makes him the assembly's longest serving member with 40 years 11 months 22 days; however, Joh Bjelke-Petersen has the longest period of continuous service (40 years 6 months 28 days).[4]