James Stevenson FRSE (1786–1866) was a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who fathered two Scottish heroines, Flora Stevenson and Louisa Stevenson, the industrialist, James Cochran Stevenson^[1] and architect John James Stevenson.

Life[edit]

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^[2] creating Oswald Stevenson & Co with James Oswald.^[3]

The family moved into central Glasgow in 1825, running the firm James Stevenson & Co, cotton brokers, from 104 Hutcheson Street.^[4] 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.^[5]

He died at home, 13 Randolph Crescent in Edinburgh on 13 June 1866.^[6]

Artistic recognition[edit]

He was portrayed by Norman Macbeth and Thomas Annan photographed the portrait.^[7]

Family[edit]

He was married to Jane Stewart Shannon from Greenock. They had ten children: four sons and six daughters.^[8]

His brother, Nathaniel Stevenson, was father to James Croesus Stevenson.^[9]

References[edit]