James Sprent was a third generation Tasmanian whose father, Charles Percy, and grandfather, James, were well known for their survey work both in Hobart and in the mineral areas of the west coast. He was the eldest of five children whose father died at the early age of thirty years. The resultant privations generated the iron will for which he came to be well known.

A scholarship took him to the University of Tasmania from which he graduated BSc in 1903. This was followed by further studies in science, and specifically anatomy, in Germany. From there he went to Edinburgh to graduate MB ChB in 1909, gaining the James Scott Prize in midwifery. There followed a period at the Rotunda before he returned to Hobart as a junior house surgeon at the General Hospital. There his scholarly approach to his work not only impressed his seniors but set new standards in the Hospital. He left in 1911 to work as a general practitioner but in association with a leading obstetrician. A turning point came however when he failed in an election to the staff of the Queen Alexandra Hospital (obstetrical) but received an appointment at the Hobart General Hospital as assistant physician.

He was well established in general practice when the First World War broke out. He served at Gallipoli and in Egypt and France. His conduct with stretcher-bearers at Monquet Farm was rewarded with the Military Cross. In 1917 he received a chest wound on the Hindenberg Line and this brought about his return. An appointment as medical officer to the Repatriation Department followed. He returned to private practice but, owing to a dispute in the Hobart General Hospital, his appointment there lapsed and he became a consultant in medicine, purely in private practice.

In 1920 he served as president of the Tasmanian branch of the British Medical Association but shortly had a disagreement and resigned from the Association, never to return. This experience led him to withdraw and become a lone wolf, both professionally and personally, making no contribution to medical meetings or literature.

This state of affairs went on until he was persuaded by SO Cowen to join the Association of Physicians. A great change came over him. He enjoyed the Association activities and soon set about seeking other Tasmanian physicians to join. This was the beginning of the College in Tasmania and the Tasmanian foundation Fellows owe this honour to the work and recommendation of James Sprent. From the inception of the College he was devoted to its aims and objects and was unceasing in his encouragement of others to qualify for membership. The early development of the College in Tasmania is entirely due to his energetic leadership. Not only were young practitioners encouraged to seek membership, but also a number of men long established in the profession were motivated to return to the drawing board and achieve the requirements of admission. As the first chairman of the state committee of the College, which office he held for some eight of its first ten years, he set a high standard and insisted on a wide participation of Fellows and Members in clinical meetings organised regularly in both Hobart and Launceston.

Throughout he had an especial interest in dermatology, an ill-developed facet of medicine at the time. He delighted in demonstrating skin cases at clinical meetings and in doing so delighted his colleagues no less. Occupational medicine and Repatriation Department medicine were important interests. Widely read and keenly assessing recent advances in medicine, he had excellent judgement and his help was much sought by his colleagues and appreciated by his patients.

Sprent (he only used surnames) was a big man in every way. Tall and heavily built, his striking appearance was set off by the piece of shrapnel from his wound which he wore hanging on a chain from his fob. Intolerant of anything short of excellence and domineering even to the point of rudeness at times, he was basically very kindly, especially to his juniors. A man of wide interests, he enjoyed club life, billiards and racing. Club and College dinners were always an event for him. His home was paramount. He loved it and loved sharing it. A gourmet with a keen appreciation of wines, he and his wife entertained frequently, formally and graciously. Fellows and Members owe much to this aspect of the Sprent character.