| Honorific Prefix: | The Reverend |
| James Simpson | |
| Image Upright: | .85 |
| Birth Date: | 9 July 1812 |
| Birth Place: | Clitheroe, Lancashire, England |
| Death Place: | Accrington, Lancashire, England |
| Burial Place: | St James' Church, Church Kirk, Lancashire, England |
| Occupation: | Deacon, activist |
| Known For: | Vegetarianism activism |
| President of the Vegetarian Society | |
| Term: | 1847–1849 |
| Successor: | William Harvey[1] |
| Children: | 2 |
| Relatives: | William Harvey (father-in-law) |
James Simpson (9 July 1812 – 3 September 1859) was a Bible Christian deacon and activist for a number of causes. He was active in the vegetarianism, temperance, anti-tobacco, anti-Corn Law and peace movements. Simpson co-founded and served as the first President of the Vegetarian Society.
James Simpson was born on 9 July 1812,[2] in Clitheroe, Lancashire, the son of James Simpson Sr.,[3] a wealthy calico printer.[4] His family were members of the Bible Christian Church.[5] He was educated by Rev. W. Wood at Hybrake House, Altham,[6] and received a private education in London and Berlin.
Simpson married Hannah Harvey in 1843; they had two children. His father-in-law was William Harvey, who was Mayor of Salford from 1857 to 1859 and a prominent Bible Christian.[7]
Actively engaged in public life, Simpson supported diverse social and political reforms. A member of the Anti-Corn Law League, he also joined the temperance movement during a time when such a choice was uncommon. He served as Vice-President of the United Kingdom Alliance. In addition, he was a prominent member of the Lancashire Liberal Party.
Embracing the tenets of Bible Christianity and influenced by Swedenborg, Simpson maintained a lifelong commitment to vegetarianism, instilled by his mother.[8] He helped form and was elected the first president of the Vegetarian Society in 1847.[9] His travels abroad led to the establishment of international vegetarian societies.[10] He also anonymously published two works on vegetarianism.
Simpson died on 3 September 1859, at the age of 47. He was living in Foxhill Bank, Accrington, and suffered from a long illness for 18 months. Simpson was buried at St James' Church, Church Kirk.[11] A 30feet high memorial obelisk was also erected there.