John Mitchell (1786–1881) was a Scottish merchant and ship owner in Glasgow, known as "the Father of the Glasgow Town Council". [1] [2]
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]
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] |
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]
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]
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.
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.
the Rev. Peter Pennycook, minister of the Parish of Carnock, Fife, to Hamilla, daughter of John Mitchell, Esq. of Moore Park.
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.
The John Mitchell intended for the India Australian trade direct from Glasgow. This the third vessel built by Mr Storm for the same owner.
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.
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
John Mitchell (1786–1881) was a Scottish merchant and ship owner in Glasgow, known as "the Father of the Glasgow Town Council". [1] [2]
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]
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] |
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]
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]
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.
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.
the Rev. Peter Pennycook, minister of the Parish of Carnock, Fife, to Hamilla, daughter of John Mitchell, Esq. of Moore Park.
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.
The John Mitchell intended for the India Australian trade direct from Glasgow. This the third vessel built by Mr Storm for the same owner.
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.
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