John Mitchell (merchant)

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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[edit]

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[edit]

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 Builder Location Note
1832 Lusitania Robert Barclay Glasgow Wood Sailing Vessel Brigantine[18][19]
1835 Dalkeith Hunter & Dow Glasgow Wood Sailing Vessel Schooner[20]
1835 Lisbon Robert Barclay Glasgow Wood Sailing Vessel Schooner[21]
1837 Ann Mitchell Hunter & Dow Glasgow Wood Sailing Vessel Schooner[22]
1839 John Mitchell Alexander Stephen Arbroath Wood Sailing Vessel 3 masted Ship[23][24]
1850 Hamilla Mitchell Lunan & Robertson Peterhead Wood Sailing Vessel 3 masted Ship[25][26]
1852 Catherine Mitchell Archibald McMillan & Son Dumbarton Wood Sailing Vessel 3 Masted Ship[27][28]
1852 Janet Mitchell Portland Shipbuilding Co. Troon Wood Sailing Vessel 3 Masted Ship[29]
1854 The Earl of Eglinton Portland Shipbuilding Co. Troon Wood Sailing Vessel 3 Masted Ship[30]
1856 Victor Emmanuel Alexander Denny Dumbarton Iron Screw Steamer[31][32]
1864 Hamilla Mitchell Denny & Rankin Dumbarton Iron Sailing Vessel 3 Masted Ship[33]
1866 Tagus Thomas Adamson Alloa Wood Sailing Vessel 3 Masted Barque[34]

Career[edit]

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[edit]

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]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "John Mitchell". The Glasgow Story. 2004. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Death of Councillor John Mitchell". Glasgow Herald. 6 December 1881. p. 3 – via British Library Newspapers.
  3. ^ Rankin, Carol (2002). "An Account of the Rankin family in Portugal" (PDF). The British Historical Society of Portugal. 29: 5 – via BHS Portugal.
  4. ^ "Wm. Rankin & Sons". Glasgow West Address.
  5. ^ Reid, James Macarthur (1938). The History of the Clydesdale Bank, 1838-1938. Blackie and Son Limited. p. 52.
  6. ^ "A day on the Clyde". Kilmarnock Weekly Post and County of Ayr Reporter. 19 September 1863. p. 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. ^ "Private Correspondence". Caledonian Mercury. 15 November 1832 – via British Library Newspapers.
  8. ^ "Reinforcements for Don Pedro". Liverpool Mercury. 23 November 1832 – via British Library Newspapers.
  9. ^ "The "John Mitchell" from England". Adelaide Observer. 28 April 1849. p. 3 – via Trove.
  10. ^ "Shipping Intelligence". The Argus (Melbourne). 5 June 1849. p. 2 – via Trove.
  11. ^ "Departure of the Catherine Mitchell". Empire (Sydney, NSW). 6 January 1853. p. 2 – via Trove.
  12. ^ "Gotland". Greenock Advertiser. 28 April 1864. p. 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. ^ "Marriages". Fife Herald. 16 January 1868. p. 3 – via 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. ^ "The Wreck of a Dundee built ship". Dundee Courier. 20 September 1869 – via British Library Newspapers.
  15. ^ "Money Market and City News". Morning Post. 3 November 1869. p. 8 – via British Library Newspapers.
  16. ^ "The Wreck of the Hamilla Mitchell". Glasgow Herald. 6 September 1870 – via British Library Newspapers.
  17. ^ "Treasure Ship Pursued. Salvors escape from Chinese pirates". Evening Telegraph. 6 September 1921. p. 2 – via British Library Newspapers.
  18. ^ "LUSITANIA". Clyde Ships.
  19. ^ "Glasgow, Aug. 29". Morning Post. 31 August 1832 – via 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. ^ "Dalkeith". Clyde Ships.
  21. ^ "Lisbon". Clyde Ships.
  22. ^ "Ann Mitchell". Clyde Ships.
  23. ^ "John Mitchell". Clyde Ships.
  24. ^ "Penny Post". Shipping and Mercantile Gazette. 29 August 1839. p. 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. ^ "Hamilla Mitchell". Clyde Ships.
  26. ^ "Peterhead". Aberdeen Journal. 28 August 1850. Retrieved 11 February 2024 – via 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. ^ "Catherine Mitchell". Clyde Ships.
  28. ^ "Launch at Dumbarton". Liverpool Mercury. 6 August 1852 – via 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. ^ "Janet Mitchell". Clyde Ships.
  30. ^ "EARL OF EGLINTON". Clyde Ships.
  31. ^ "Victor Emmanuel". Clyde Ships.
  32. ^ "Launch of Victor Emmanuel". North British Daily Mail. 11 January 1856. p. 1.
  33. ^ "HAMILLA MITCHELL". Clyde Ships. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  34. ^ "Tagus". Clyde Ships.
  35. ^ a b "Moore Park". Glasgow West Address. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  36. ^ Biographical Sketches of the Hon. the Lord Provosts of Glasgow: With Appendix. J. Tweed. 1883 – via 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. ^ Post-Office annual Glasgow directory 1871-1872. J Graham. 1872. p. 293.
  39. ^ JOHN MITCHELL/FR3191 (FR3191) 14/06/1813 644/1 280/198 Scotlands People
  40. ^ "Bequests by the late Mr John Mitchell". Edinburgh Evening News. 15 December 1881. p. 2.
  41. ^ "Funeral of the late Councillor Mitchell". North British Daily Mail. 9 December 1881. p. 4.
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