{{Short description|New Zealand politician (1824–1896)}} {{About|the New Zealand mayor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = James Jameson | honorific_suffix = | image = James Jameson portrait.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Portrait of James Jameson | order = 4th | office = Mayor of Christchurch | term_start = 21 Dec 1870 | term_end = 20 Dec 1871 | predecessor = Andrew Duncan | successor = Henry Sawtell | birth_date = 5 April 1824 | birth_place = London | death_date = {{Death date and age|1896|9|6|1824|4|5|df=yes}} | death_place = Linwood<ref>{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TS18960907.2.22 |title=Death|date=7 September 1896|issue=5663|work=The Star|page=3|access-date=13 March 2010}}</ref> | resting_place = Linwood cemetery<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18960909.2.37 |title=Funerals|date=9 September 1896|issue=5665|work=The Star|page=3|access-date=13 March 2010}}</ref> | resting_place_coordinates = | birth_name = | party = | spouse = Jane Dyer Jameson (m. 1847–1894) | relations = | children = | occupation = Linen draper | profession = | cabinet = | signature = | signature_alt = }} ''' James Purvis Jameson''' JP (5 April 1824 – 6 September 1896) was Mayor of Christchurch in 1870–1871. Originally a linen draper from the Manchester area, he emigrated with his family to Christchurch in 1863. He was involved with many organisations in Christchurch and was active in the Congregational church. For a time, he was a farmer on the Canterbury Plains.
==Early years== Jameson was born on 5 April 1824 in London as the fourth child to John Young Jameson and Jane Douglas Oliver. He was christened on 13 July 1824 at Saint Mary in Marylebone, London. His father was an officer HMS. Jameson had four siblings, who were also all born in London: Robert John (b. 1818), William Oliver (b. 1819), Eleanor (b. 1823) and Frederick Ogerton (b. 1828). James Jameson married Jane Dyer Waugh in 1847 at St James in Westminster. She was the daughter of James Dyer Waugh.
Jameson was a linen draper in Moston, Manchester. The 1851 and 1861 censuses show that he employed a number of people. In 1861, the Jamesons were employing seven men, six women and six apprentices. His mother was living with them at the time; she died on 15 November 1863 in Liverpool.
The Jamesons had five children, who were born before they all came to New Zealand on the ''Sebastopol'',<ref name="NZETC Mayor">{{cite book|title=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Canterbury Provincial District)|publisher=Cyclopedia Company Limited |location=Christchurch |year=1903|chapter=Mr. James Purvis Jameson |url= https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc03Cycl-t1-body1-d3-d9-d5.html#name-420448-mention |access-date=6 July 2012}}</ref> leaving Gravesend on 17 January 1863 and arriving in Lyttelton on 21 May 1863.<ref name="DNZB Gardner">{{DNZB|Gardner|W. J.|1g3|Gardner, Margaret – Biography|6 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="shipping list">{{cite news|title=Untitled|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=CHP18630523.2.24 |access-date=6 July 2012|work=The Press|volume=III |issue=173 |date=23 May 1863|page=3}}</ref>
==Professional life and organisational involvement == upright|thumb|left|Sketch of James Jameson Jameson set up a grocery and merchandise store in Christchurch,<ref name="Obituary">{{cite news |title=Obituary |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18960907.2.49 |work=The Star|page=4|date=7 September 1896|issue=5663}}</ref> stocked with merchandise he brought with him from England. The store, which was located on the east side of Colombo Street, between Armagh and Gloucester Streets, was damaged in a fire on 5 November 1866. He sold this to William Radcliffe (who was later elected a member of the Christchurch City Council in 1877, and took over Warner's Hotel in Cathedral Square).<ref name="NZETC Radcliffe">{{cite book|title=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Canterbury Provincial District)|publisher=Cyclopedia Company Limited|location=Christchurch|year=1903|chapter=Mr. William Radcliffe |url= https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc03Cycl-t1-body1-d3-d10-d32.html |access-date=17 May 2010}}</ref>
Jameson bought a farm in Leeston and moved to the Malvern District. He sold the property and bought another farm in Coalgate, but moved back to Christchurch. He lived there again during the latter part of his life, before moving back to Christchurch for his final years.<ref name="NZETC Mayor" /> His son Frederick lived in Leeston and was an auctioneer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Advertisements|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18960930.2.54.1 |access-date=6 July 2012|work=The Press|volume=LIII |issue=9535 |date=30 September 1896|page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Advertisements|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18960909.2.51.3 |access-date=6 July 2012|work=The Press|volume=LIII |issue=9517 |date=9 September 1896|page=8}}</ref>
Jameson joined the Industrial Association of Canterbury soon after its establishment, and became its second president.<ref name="NZETC Mayor" /> In 1881, he initially refused to stand again for election as chairperson,<ref>{{cite news|title=News of the Day|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18811123.2.11 |access-date=6 July 2012 |work= The Press|volume=XXXVI |issue=5058 |date=23 November 1881|page=2}}</ref> following some controversy within the organisation over a privately proposed industrial exhibition in Dunedin.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Proposed Exhibition |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18811018.2.18 |access-date=6 July 2012|work=The Press |volume= XXXVI |issue= 5027 |date= 18 October 1881|page=2}}</ref> The chairmanship was eventually put to the vote and Jameson was narrowly re-elected.<ref>{{cite news|title=Industrial Association|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18811221.2.19 |access-date=6 July 2012|work=The Press|volume=XXXVI |issue=5082 |date=21 December 1881|page=3}}</ref>
Together with John Ollivier, he acted as a judge at Agricultural and Pastoral Association shows.<ref name="Press obit">{{cite news |title=News of the Day |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18960908.2.17 |access-date=6 July 2012|work=The Press|volume=LIII |issue=9516 |date=8 September 1896|page=4}}</ref>
Jameson promoted the establishment of the original Kaiapoi Woollen Company. He was a director of the Mutual Benefit Building Society for many years, and chaired several public bodies.<ref name="NZETC Mayor" /> He was the chairman of the Christchurch Public Cemetery Board until his death and was succeeded in this role by Charles Louisson.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cemetery Board |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18960922.2.52 |access-date=6 July 2012|work=The Star |date=22 September 1896|issue=5676|page=3}}</ref>
He belonged to the Trinity Congregational Church and was a member of the committee in charge of fundraising for the original church built in 1864.<ref name=fundraising>{{cite news|title=Congregational Church, Christchurch |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=LT18640526.2.20.1 |access-date=13 June 2012|work=Lyttelton Times|volume=XXI |issue=1241 |date=26 May 1864|page=4}}</ref> Following his death, a memorial service was held at the church.<ref>{{cite news|title=News of the Day |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18960914.2.16 |access-date=6 July 2012|work=The Press|volume=LIII |issue=9521 |date=14 September 1896|page=4}}</ref>
==Politics== [[File:James Jameson 40.JPG|thumb|upright|The headstone of James Jameson and his wife at Linwood Cemetery]] The Christchurch town council held a meeting on 10 June 1868 to elect its first mayor. In those days, the councillors elected one of their group as mayor, i.e. the position was not elected at large (by the voting public) as is the case today. The following councillors attended the meeting: William Wilson, James Purvis Jameson, T. Tombs, George Ruddenklau, Henry Thomson, W. A. Sheppard, William Calvert and John Anderson, who chaired the meeting. Thomson moved that Wilson be elected as the first mayor of Christchurch, and Tombs seconded the motion. The chairman put the motion to the meeting and it was carried unanimously. With the meeting, the council had brought itself under the Municipal Corporations Act 1867.<ref name="June 1868 mayoral election">{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18680610.2.9.1 |title=Christchurch|date=10 June 1868|issue=24|work=The Star|page=2|access-date=22 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="NZETC Ex Mayors">{{cite book|title=The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Canterbury Provincial District)|publisher=Cyclopedia Company Limited|location=Christchurch|year=1903|chapter=Ex Mayors|url=https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc03Cycl-t1-body1-d3-d9.html|access-date=16 March 2010}}</ref>
Elections for the town council and since 1868 Christchurch City Council were held annually. He was elected five times: 1867, 1868, 1870, 1871 and 1878.<ref name="Councillors">{{cite web |url= http://www1.ccc.govt.nz/handbook/councillorsofthecityofchristchurch.asp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110720010657/http://www1.ccc.govt.nz/handbook/councillorsofthecityofchristchurch.asp | archive-date = 20 July 2011 | title = Councillors of the City of Christchurch |publisher=Christchurch City Council| access-date=25 April 2013 |location=Christchurch}}</ref>
Jameson was elected mayor at a council meeting on 21 December 1870.<ref name="Jameson election">{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18701221.2.5 |title=Local and General|date=21 December 1870|issue=803|work=The Star|page=2|access-date=31 March 2010}}</ref> In April 1871, Christchurch hosted the Governor, George Bowen, and Jameson received him on behalf of the City Council.<ref>{{cite news|title=Arrival of His Excellency the Governor |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18710401.2.11 |access-date=6 July 2012|work=The Press|volume=XVIII |issue=2472 |date=1 April 1871|page=2}}</ref> Later in the same month, the council caused considerable controversy through the illegal process of setting rates.<ref>{{cite news|title=The City Council |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18710429.2.7 |access-date=6 July 2012|work=The Star|date=29 April 1871|issue=909|page=2}}</ref> On 20 December 1871, Henry Sawtell was elected to be the next mayor of Christchurch.<ref name="1871 Sawtell election">{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=GRA18711221.2.7 |title=LATEST TELEGRAMS.|volume=XII |issue=1062 |date=21 December 1871|publisher=Grey River Argus|page=2|access-date=3 May 2010}}</ref>
On 3 October 1890, he unsuccessfully contested the Heathcote riding of the Selwyn County Council against Walter Kitson.<ref>{{cite news|title=Latest Locals|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TS18900926.2.29|work=The Star|date=26 September 1890|issue=6970}}</ref>
==Family == They had five children:<ref name="NZETC Mayor" /><ref name="shipping list" /> * James Samuel (1847/48 – 3 August 1888), his eldest son, married Mary Thomson, the eldest daughter of James Thomson, Brighton, Victoria, on 4 May 1883.<ref>{{cite web|title=Papers Past – Star – Christchurch – - May 1883 – BMD|url=http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~ashleigh/1870-1908/1883.May.Star.Christchurch.BMD%27s.html|publisher=Beverley Evans|access-date=20 May 2010|date=18 June 2006|archive-date=22 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022103910/http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~ashleigh/1870-1908/1883.May.Star.Christchurch.BMD%27s.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> * William (27 June 1849 – 27 August 1923) married Mary Haswell Wood on 27 January 1878 at Trinity Church in Christchurch. * George (born December 1850<!-- United Kingdom Census 1851 was on 30 March 1851 and George's age on census day recorded as 3 months -->) married Agnes MacFarlane, and his second marriage was with Vera Target. * Jane Dyer (1852 – 24 July 1903) died in Christchurch.<ref>{{cite news|title=Death|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS19030724.2.34|access-date=29 May 2010|work=The Star|date=24 July 1903|issue=7765|page=3}}</ref> * Frederick (1856 – 23 July 1908) married Jane Emeline (Linnie) Worker, daughter of the Rev.W. Worker, of Sanson on 19 October 1881.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marriage |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18811026.2.8 |access-date=6 July 2012|work=The Press|volume=XXXVI |issue=5034 |date=26 October 1881|page=2}}</ref>
His wife Jane Dyer Jameson died on 29 July 1894 at their Cashel Street residence in Linwood.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18940730.2.15 |title=DEATHS.|date=30 July 1894|issue=5014|work=The Star|page=2|access-date=3 May 2010}}</ref> The funeral was two days later, and she was buried at the Linwood Cemetery.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18940730.2.24.1|title=Funerals|date=30 July 1894|issue=5014|work=The Star|page=2|access-date=3 May 2010}}</ref>
Jameson died on 6 September 1896, also at his Linwood residence.<ref name=Obituary /> He was buried at Linwood Cemetery two days later.<ref>{{cite web| title= Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database| url= http://librarydata.christchurch.org.nz/Cemeteries/interment.asp?id=19565| publisher= Christchurch City Libraries| access-date= 9 May 2011| archive-date= 10 July 2012| archive-url= https://archive.today/20120710002902/http://librarydata.christchurch.org.nz/Cemeteries/interment.asp?id=19565| url-status= dead}}</ref> He was survived by three sons and one daughter.<ref name="NZETC Mayor" /> Failing health had prevented him from participation in public life in his last few years.<ref name=Obituary />
Jameson Avenue in the Christchurch suburb of Mairehau is named for him.<ref name="CSN-I to K">{{cite web |url= http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/PlaceNames/ChristchurchStreetNames-I-K.pdf |title=Christchurch Street Names I to K |last=Harper |first=Margaret |publisher=Christchurch City Libraries |page=10 |access-date=6 July 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef | before = Andrew Duncan}} {{s-ttl | title = Mayor of Christchurch |years = 1870–1871}} {{s-aft | after = Henry Sawtell }} {{s-end}}
{{Mayors of Christchurch}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jameson, James}} Category:1824 births Category:1896 deaths Category:19th-century mayors of places in New Zealand Category:Mayors of Christchurch Category:Christchurch City Councillors Category:Burials at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch