James Matheson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir James Nicolas Sutherland Matheson, 1st Baronet (17 October 1796 – 31 December 1878) born in Shiness, Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland, was the son of a Scottish trader in India. He attended Edinburgh's Royal High School and the University of Edinburgh.
He moved to China and joined William Jardine in partnership to form Jardine Matheson. He married Mary Jane Percival on 9 November 1843. Matheson bought the Isle of Lewis in 1844 for a £190,000 and built Lews Castle.
In 1845 he began an improvements programme, including drainage schemes and road construction. He increased the programme during the blight and by 1850 had spent some £329,000 on the island. Between 1851 and 1855 he assisted 1,771 people to emigrate.
Matheson became a baronet in 1851. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashburton from 1843 to 1852 and for Ross and Cromarty from 1852 to 1868. He died at the age of 82 in Menton, France. The baronetcy became extinct on his death.
[edit] External links
- Overview of Sir James Matheson
- The Opium Wars: how Scottish traders fed the habit from The Scotsman
- Sir James Matheson a 19th century improver with links to references for further study
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Jardine |
Member of Parliament for Ashburton 1843–1852 |
Succeeded by George Moffatt |
| Preceded by Sir James Mackenzie |
Member of Parliament for Ross and Cromarty 1852–1868 |
Succeeded by Sir Alexander Matheson |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by New creation |
Baronet (of The Kews) 1850–1878 |
Succeeded by Extinct |
 |
This article about a Member of the Parliament of Great Britain, or the Parliament of the United Kingdom, representing a Scottish constituency is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 This United Kingdom business-related biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
