John Mitchell (merchant) explained

John Mitchell (1786–1881) was a Scottish merchant and ship owner in Glasgow, known as "the Father of the Glasgow Town Council".[1] [2]

Merchant

He was the son of a Dalkeith cork manufacturer, born 10 August, 1786, who in 1808 set up in business in Glasgow and became the biggest cork importer in Britain, pioneering trade between Portugal and the Clyde.[1] John Mitchell & Sons was founded in 1813 until taken over by William Rankin & Sons in 1889.[3] [4]

Ship owner

He was also a ship owner, owner of the first ocean-going ship, 'Lusitania' (1832), to be built in Glasgow.[5] [6] On her first voyage to Oporto from Broomielaw she carried 172 men to join the forces of Don Pedro.[7] [8]

The 'John Mitchell' (1839) also took passengers to Australia in 1849[9] [10] and the 'Catherine Mitchell' in the 1850s.[11]

He was owner of the 'Hamilla Mitchell' launched in 1864 and built by Denny & Rankin, Dumbarton,[12] the second ship named after his daughter.[13] She was wrecked on the Leuconna Rock near Shanghai in August 1869 with a cargo valued at £150,000 and £50,000 in coins.[14] The crew survived. Much of the cargo was salvaged using specialised diving equipment and after escaping Chinese pirates.[15] [16] [17]

Date Name BuilderLocationNote
1832LusitaniaRobert BarclayGlasgowWood Sailing Vessel Brigantine[18] [19]
1835DalkeithHunter & Dow GlasgowWood Sailing Vessel Schooner[20]
1835LisbonRobert Barclay GlasgowWood Sailing Vessel Schooner[21]
1837 Ann MitchellHunter & DowGlasgow Wood Sailing Vessel Schooner[22]
1839John MitchellAlexander Stephen Arbroath Wood Sailing Vessel 3 masted Ship[23] [24]
1850Hamilla MitchellLunan & Robertson PeterheadWood Sailing Vessel 3 masted Ship[25] [26]
1852Catherine MitchellArchibald McMillan & SonDumbartonWood Sailing Vessel 3 Masted Ship[27] [28]
1852 Janet MitchellPortland Shipbuilding Co. TroonWood Sailing Vessel 3 Masted Ship[29]
1854The Earl of EglintonPortland Shipbuilding Co. Troon Wood Sailing Vessel 3 Masted Ship[30]
1856Victor EmmanuelAlexander DennyDumbartonIron Screw Steamer[31] [32]
1864Hamilla MitchellDenny & RankinDumbartonIron Sailing Vessel 3 Masted Ship[33]
1866TagusThomas Adamson AlloaWood Sailing Vessel 3 Masted Barque[34]

Career

He was an elder in the Glasgow Presbytery for fifty years, member of the Town Council since the Municipal Reform Bill of 1833 except for four years when he was Provost of Gorbals, Special Commissioner for Glasgow when Peel introduced the Income Tax Bill, a Magistrate and a founder and director of the Clydesdale Bank.[35] On the council he supported the creation of Sighthill Cemetery and the construction of the Portland Street Suspension Bridge.[1] He held the honorary office of Master of Works in 1863.[36]

Private life

He first lived in Stockwell Street. In 1852 he purchased Moore Park, Govan, which is where he died 5 December 1881.[35] [37] His business address was also given as 54 Great Clyde street[38] and East Clyde Street. He was married to Janet Hamilton in 1813.[39]

On his death he left bequests to various charities in his will.[40] He was interred at Sighthill Cemetery after a funeral at St George’s Church.[41]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2004 . John Mitchell . 10 February 2024 . The Glasgow Story.
  2. News: 6 December 1881 . Death of Councillor John Mitchell . Glasgow Herald . 3 . British Library Newspapers.
  3. Rankin . Carol . 2002 . An Account of the Rankin family in Portugal . The British Historical Society of Portugal . 29 . 5 . BHS Portugal.
  4. Web site: Wm. Rankin & Sons . Glasgow West Address.
  5. Book: Reid, James Macarthur . The History of the Clydesdale Bank, 1838-1938 . Blackie and Son Limited . 1938 . 52.
  6. News: 19 September 1863 . A day on the Clyde . Kilmarnock Weekly Post and County of Ayr Reporter . 6 . the first enterprising shipowner who built and launched the first ocean ship on the Clyde, at Barclay's dock. She was named the Lusitania, and was engaged in the Portuguese trade..
  7. News: 15 November 1832 . Private Correspondence . Caledonian Mercury . British Library Newspapers.
  8. News: 23 November 1832 . Reinforcements for Don Pedro . Liverpool Mercury . British Library Newspapers.
  9. News: 28 April 1849 . The "John Mitchell" from England . Adelaide Observer . 3 . Trove.
  10. News: 5 June 1849 . Shipping Intelligence . The Argus (Melbourne) . 2 . Trove.
  11. News: 6 January 1853 . Departure of the Catherine Mitchell . Empire (Sydney, NSW) . 2 . Trove.
  12. News: 28 April 1864 . Gotland . Greenock Advertiser . 4 . On Saturday, there was launched from the building yard of Messrs Denny & Rankin, Dumbarton, large iron clipper ship. She was named the Hamilla Mitchell, by Mrs James Holmes, Fern Lodge, Glasgow, daughter of the owner of the ship, John Mitchell, Esq. This fine vessel is intended for the China trade, but will proceed on her first voyage to New Zealand with passengers, for the comfortable conveyance of whom she is admirably adapted, having a large full poop, spacious deck houses, and being very lofty ’tween decks..
  13. News: 16 January 1868 . Marriages . Fife Herald . 3 . British Library Newspapers . the Rev. Peter Pennycook, minister of the Parish of Carnock, Fife, to Hamilla, daughter of John Mitchell, Esq. of Moore Park..
  14. News: 20 September 1869 . The Wreck of a Dundee built ship . Dundee Courier . British Library Newspapers.
  15. News: 3 November 1869 . Money Market and City News . Morning Post . 8 . British Library Newspapers.
  16. News: 6 September 1870 . The Wreck of the Hamilla Mitchell . Glasgow Herald . British Library Newspapers.
  17. News: 6 September 1921 . Treasure Ship Pursued. Salvors escape from Chinese pirates . Evening Telegraph . 2 . British Library Newspapers.
  18. Web site: LUSITANIA . Clyde Ships.
  19. News: 31 August 1832 . Glasgow, Aug. 29 . Morning Post . British Library Newspapers . Launch.— There was launched yesterday at Mr. Barclay's slip, Broomielaw, in presence of a great number of spectators, a fine new brigantine of about 200 tons burthen, called the Lusitania, which, we understand, is intended as a regular trader to Oporto. This is the first sea-going vessel launched here; and, from the substantial manner in which she is finished, she does credit alike to the builder and her spirited proprietor, Mr. John Mitchell, cork merchant, who, we understand, is the first who brought any vessel direct from Portugal to this port, and who is likewise the first that has established a regular trader between this and Portugal..
  20. Web site: Dalkeith . Clyde Ships.
  21. Web site: Lisbon . Clyde Ships.
  22. Web site: Ann Mitchell . Clyde Ships.
  23. Web site: John Mitchell . Clyde Ships.
  24. News: 29 August 1839 . Penny Post . Shipping and Mercantile Gazette . 3 . The John Mitchell intended for the India Australian trade direct from Glasgow. This the third vessel built by Mr Storm for the same owner..
  25. Web site: Hamilla Mitchell . Clyde Ships.
  26. News: 28 August 1850 . Peterhead . 11 February 2024 . Aberdeen Journal . British Library Newspapers . The Hamilla Mitchell is classed A. I. 13 years, and is by far the largest vessel which has yet been built at the port of Peterhead; and her model, together with the manner in which she is finished, reflect great credit on her builders..
  27. Web site: Catherine Mitchell . Clyde Ships.
  28. News: 6 August 1852 . Launch at Dumbarton . Liverpool Mercury . British Library Newspapers . A beautiful first-class clipper A 1 13 years' ship, the Catherine Mitchell, 800 tons register, and owned by Mr. John Mitchell, of this city, was launched yesterday from the building-yard of Messrs. A. McMillan and Son, Dumbarton. She was named by Miss Mitchell, and is the largest ship ever launched by these builders. We understand she goes to Liverpool to embark passengers for Port Phillip, under the charge of Messrs. Millers and Thompson, and we have no doubt no finer ship ever sailed from Liverpool with passengers for those colonies. Her cabinis are beautifully fitted-up, and she has upwards of eight feet 'tween decks.-Glasgow Courier.
  29. Web site: Janet Mitchell . Clyde Ships.
  30. Web site: EARL OF EGLINTON . Clyde Ships.
  31. Web site: Victor Emmanuel. Clyde Ships.
  32. News: 11 January 1856 . Launch of Victor Emmanuel . North British Daily Mail . 1.
  33. Web site: HAMILLA MITCHELL . 4 February 2024 . Clyde Ships.
  34. Web site: Tagus . Clyde Ships.
  35. Web site: Moore Park . 10 February 2024 . Glasgow West Address.
  36. Book: Biographical Sketches of the Hon. the Lord Provosts of Glasgow: With Appendix . 1883 . J. Tweed . Google Books.
  37. MITCHELL JOHN 4/3/1882 OF MOORE PARK, GOVAN, MERCHANT, GLASGOW, D. 05/12/1881 AT MOORE PARK AFORESAID. Scotlands People SC36/48/98
  38. Book: Post-Office annual Glasgow directory 1871-1872 . J Graham . 1872 . 293.
  39. JOHN MITCHELL/FR3191 (FR3191) 14/06/1813 644/1 280/198 Scotlands People
  40. News: 15 December 1881 . Bequests by the late Mr John Mitchell . Edinburgh Evening News . 2.
  41. News: 9 December 1881 . Funeral of the late Councillor Mitchell . North British Daily Mail . 4.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "John Mitchell (merchant)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.