James Cochran Stevenson
James Cochran Stevenson (1825–1905), chemical manufacturer
1825 born on 9 October 1825 in Glasgow, the eldest child of James Stevenson (1786–1866), a Glasgow cotton broker, and Jane Stewart, née Shannan, daughter of a Greenock merchant.
Educated at Glasgow high school and the University of Glasgow.
c.1843 The whole family moved to South Shields, where his father became senior partner of the Jarrow Chemical Co, alkali manufacturers.
1854 On the retirement of his father, Stevenson and one of his father's partners, John Williamson, took over management of the Jarrow Chemical Company.
1855 they patented a revolving kiln to improve the efficiency of the production process.
Within a few years it was the largest chemical company in England.
With Tennants, the Jarrow Chemical Company developed brine deposits on Teesside for salt and were involved with the Tharsis Sulphur and Copper Co, set up to mine pyrites in Spain to supply their need for sulphur.
1890 After the formation of United Alkali Co, Stevenson became a vice-chairman.
1905 Died at Eltham in Kent.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography, ODNB