James Alexander Holden
James Alexander Holden (1835-1887) was the businessman who founded the South Australian company which eventually produced the Holden automobile.
1835 April 01st. Born in Walsall, the younger son of Edward Holden, saddler and hardware merchant, and his American wife Elizabeth, née Mason. Their elder son was Edward Thomas Holden, later Sir Edward, industrialist and, briefly, Liberal MP for Walsall.
1856 Set up in business as J. A. Holden & Co., merchants and wholesale saddlers, selling locally made and imported saddles, whips and harnesses.
1857 Married in Adelaide to Mary Elizabeth Phillips
1859 Birth of son Henry James Holden
1887 June 02nd. Died at Semaphore, South Australia.