James Macgregor (1 August 1808 – 5 September 1858) was a British banker, railway chairman and politician.
Early life
James Macgregor,
Esq.
Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title.
In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman a ...
(sometimes spelled Mac Gregor or M'Gregor) was born in
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...
, England on 1 August 1808, the son of Alexander Macgregor, Esq. of Bloomhill in
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
, England.
Business career
James Macgregor began his business career as a banker in Liverpool, serving as the manager of
Liverpool Commercial Banking Company.
In September 1845 Macgregor was elected chairman and managing director of
South Eastern Railway. The position gave Macgregor full
autonomy over the railway's
operations. After nine challenging years dealing with the line's expansion and
acrimonious relations with other railways, Macgregor resigned in 1854.
In addition to his private business responsibilities, Macgregor served as
M.P. for
Sandwich
A sandwich is a food typically consisting of vegetables, sliced cheese or meat, placed on or between slices of bread, or more generally any dish wherein bread serves as a container or wrapper for another food type. The sandwich began as a po ...
,
England beginning in 1852 until his defeat in 1857.
Family
James Macgregor was firstly married on 3 November 1829 at
St Marylebone Parish Church
St Marylebone Parish Church is an Anglican church on the Marylebone Road in London. It was built to the designs of Thomas Hardwick in 1813–17. The present site is the third used by the parish for its church. The first was further south, near Ox ...
to Jane Small, eldest daughter of London merchant, Robert Small, Esq. of
York Terrace
York Terrace overlooks the south side of Regent's Park in Marylebone, City of Westminster, London, England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north ...
,
Regent's Park
Regent's Park (officially The Regent's Park) is one of the Royal Parks of London. It occupies of high ground in north-west Inner London, administratively split between the City of Westminster and the Borough of Camden (and historically betwee ...
, London.
Jane and her father were members of the Smalls of
Dirnanean
Dirnanean House is part of a private, traditional Highland estate located near Enochdhu in Moulin parish, Blairgowrie and Rattray, Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, 10 miles ENE of Pitlochry. The Dirnanean estate is situated adjacent to ...
,
Perthshire, Scotland. The couple had nine children before Jane Small's death in 1845.
Macgregor secondly married Catherine Pendarvis Lochner at
St Mary on Paddington Green Church
St Mary on Paddington Green is an Anglican church in the Parish of Little Venice, London, and forms part of Paddington Green conservation area. Today it stands at the junction of Edgware Road and Harrow Road, overlooking the East end of Westway ...
on 11 August 1849,
and with her had an additional five children, including
Lt.-Col. James Pendarvis Macgregor.
A grandson was
John Cecil Currie (1898 – 26 June 1944).
James Macgregor died in London on 5 September 1858,
aged 50.
See also
*
George Forrester and Company
George Forrester and Company was a British marine engine and locomotive manufacturer at Vauxhall Foundry in Liverpool, established by Scottish engineer George Forrester (b. 1780/81). The company opened in 1827 as iron founders and commenced buil ...
References
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External links
Hansard 1803-2005 Contributions in Parliament by James Macgregor*
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:MacGregor, James
1808 births
1858 deaths
English bankers
British railway entrepreneurs
Businesspeople from Liverpool
UK MPs 1852–1857
Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
19th-century English businesspeople