McManus 168

Early years and education.

James Horsburgh was the oldest surviving child of James Horsburgh and Mary Watson. James senior was a successful ship owner in Dundee and as a result, James junior had every opportunity for education. He was educated firstly at Dundee Academy^[19] and then the University of St Andrews.^[19]

Business.

In 1829, shortly after graduating from St Andrews, James Horsburgh married Mary Gordon. He then embarked on a short career as a teacher of English, before becoming a clerk and then partner of the firm of Thomas Weston Miln, merchant.^[19]

On the 29th of June 1850, Miln turned his attention to philanthropy and transferred his business to James Horsburgh and George Armitstead^[21] and the firm became known as George Armistead and Co.^[19] The partnership was not all plain sailing and in 1852, Horsburgh was advertising a reward of £50 for news of the whereabouts of John Birse of Blairgowrie, for whom he and William Collier were trustees in bankruptcy and who had “absconded from the diligence of his Creditors.“^[22]

In 1857, the partnership with Armitstead was dissolved^[23] and he carried on business in his own name in Dundee until 1870.

Seafield House.

In 1851, Horsburgh built Seafield House,^[19][24] a classical mansion, then just above the Magdalen Green, with views over the river. It does not really seem clear why he had such a sudden turn in fortune. Previously, he had been living in fairly ordinary, artisan housing, so this would seem a major leap towards prosperity.

Gardening and Music.

Horsburgh’s hobbies were very much those of a cultured and educated Victorian gentleman, involving membership of societies for horticulture, literature and music. He was on the committee of the Watt Institute, which was formed in order to save the Institution from permanent closure:

“The Institution, which was very successful for many years, has unfortunately been closed for some time past for want of funds. In March last, a special committee was appointed at a public meeting, to inquire and report as to the causes of its decay, and the means of its resuscitation. This Committee reported on 9th June; and the following Provisional Committee was named to carry out its recommendations, and to endeavour to raise a fund of £2000, by subscription, for the re-purchase of the Library, Museum and Buildings, or the erection of more central and commodious buildings.”^[9]

It was reported at the time that “there was not a spark of enthusiasm, ordinary or extraordinary, in connection with the meeting” but that the committee succeeded in saving the library and museum, at least until the opening of the Albert Institute, which then swallowed it up.^[25] It is not surprising, however, given his leisure interests and past career as a teacher, that Horsburgh was one of the subscribers to the Albert Institute.

Move to Leeds.

Horsburgh retired from business in Dundee and went to live in Leeds around 1870. James and his son Robert set up a business in Leeds, as yarn and flax merchants in Bishopsgate, Leeds.^[26] The partnership was ended in 1874.^[26] By 1881, James Horburgh and his wife, Mary, were listed in census returns living in Ormskirk, in the household of their son, Thomas Weston Mill Horsburgh.^[27] He died the following year at the age of 72 years.^[8]