James Allen Ransome (July 1806 – 29 August 1875), known as Allen Ransome, was an English agricultural-implement maker and agricultural writer, known from his 1843 publication of ''The Implements of Agriculture.'' He was considered as "one of the leaders in a movement which, by bringing the science of the engineer to bear on the manufacture of implements for tilling the ground, has wrought, during the present century, an almost complete revolution in the practice of agriculture."

Biography

James Allen Ransome was born in 1806 in Great Yarmouth as eldest son of the agricultural-implement maker James Ransome (1782–1849) and Hannah (Née Hunton), his wife. Thus he was also grandson of Robert Ransome (1753–1830), who co-founded

Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies Limited was a major British agricultural machinery maker also producing a wide range of general engineering products in Ipswich, Suffolk including traction engines, trolleybuses, ploughs, lawn mowers, combine harves ...

. In 1809 he moved with his family to Ipswich where he completed his education at Colchester in 1820."James Allen Ransome"
in: ''The Farmer's Magazine'', Rogerson and Tuxford, Vol. 11th, 3rd Series, January to July 1857. p. 1-2. After leaving school, he became apprenticed to his grandfather, father, and uncle, who were then carrying on business in Ipswich as Ransome and Sons. From 1826 to 1839 he resided at

Yoxford, Suffolk Yoxford is a village in East Suffolk, England, close to the Heritage Coast, Minsmere Reserve (RSPB), Aldeburgh and Southwold. It is known for its antique shops and (as "Loxford") for providing the setting for a Britten opera. The name 'Yoxfor ...

, where a branch of the business was established that he managed. He started a farmers' club there which was the precursor of many similar institutions, notably the Farmers' Club of London, of which Ransome was one of the founders. In 1829 he became partner in the firm then trading under the altered title of J. R. and A. Ransome, and he married. In 1839 he moved permanently to Ipswich to reside as one of the leading partners of a firm now written as Ransomes and Sims. Under his direction the business increased in size. In 1843 he published an excellent history of 'The Implements of Agriculture,' part of which had been prepared as a prize essay for the Royal Agricultural Society. He had joined the society in 1838, served on its council, and was one of the most popular figures at its annual shows (cf. Farmers' Magazine, 1857, with portrait). He was alderman of Ipswich from 1865 until his death in 1875. Ransome died 29 April 1875 at his house in Carr Street, Ipswich. By his wife Catherine (d. 17 April 1868), daughter of James Neave of Fordingbridge, Hampshire, whom he married on 4 September 1829, he left two sons, Robert James and Allen Ransome, and three daughters, one of whom married J. R. Jefferies, an active member of the firm.Annual Monitor, 1869 p. 147, 1876 p. 146.

Political career

Allen was a Councillor for the

Ipswich Corporation The Ipswich Corporation was a historic local government that owned property and governed in Ipswich, Suffolk. Since its foundation in 1200, the corporation has kept often highly detailed accounts of their operation. A great deal of these survive t ...

Selected publications

* James Allen Ransome.
The Implements of Agriculture
'' J. Ridgway, 1843 * James Allen Ransome. ''On Principle Strikes'' Wise & freeman. 1890

References

;Attribution

This article incorporates public domain material from:

External links

J Allen Ransome
at oldpond.com
James Allen Ransome
at gracesguide.co.uk {{DEFAULTSORT:Ransome, James Allen 1806 births 1875 deaths People from Great Yarmouth Agricultural writers English industrialists People of the Industrial Revolution English mechanical engineers English inventors Agricultural engineers History of Ipswich English railway mechanical engineers British railway pioneers People from Yoxford 19th-century English businesspeople