James Stevenson (merchant)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Stevenson | |
|---|---|
 Plaque on the grave of James Stevenson, Dean Cemetery | |
| Born | 28 April 1786 Paisley, Scotland |
| Died | 13 June 1866 (aged 80) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Education | Paisley Grammar School |
| Spouse | Jane Stewart Shannon |
| Children | 10 |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Flora Stevenson (daughter) Louisa Stevenson (daughter) John James Stevenson (son) James Cochran Stevenson (son) James Croesus Stevenson (nephew) |
James Stevenson FRSE (1786–1866) was a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who fathered two Scottish heroines, Flora Stevenson and Louisa Stevenson,[1] the industrialist, James Cochran Stevenson[2] and architect John James Stevenson.
He was born in Paisley on 28 April 1786 the son of James Stevenson, a silk gauze manufacturer, and his wife, Margaret Cochran. He was educated at Paisley Grammar School.
He set up a cotton spinning mill with his older brother, Nathaniel Stevenson, first at Calton then Barrowfield, before going into partnership with the Oswald brothers[3] creating Oswald Stevenson & Co with James Oswald.[4]
The family moved into central Glasgow in 1825, running the firm James Stevenson & Co, cotton brokers, from 104 Hutcheson Street.[5] James inherited the family business on his father's death in 1806.
In 1844 he also became a senior partner at the Jarrow Chemical Works in South Shields: a firm supplying dyes for his cottons.
In 1865 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposer was James Yong.[6]
He died at home, 13 Randolph Crescent in Edinburgh on 13 June 1866.[7]
