James Cleland (statistician)
James Cleland | |
---|---|
![]() portrait by William Ross | |
Born | 28 January 1770 ![]() Glasgow ![]() |
Died | 14 October 1840 ![]() Glasgow ![]() |
Occupation | Statistician, architect ![]() |
Spouse(s) | Margaret Rodger ![]() |
Children | Jane Cleland ![]() |
James Cleland LLD (1770–1840) was Superintendent of Public Works in Glasgow but is remembered as a Scottish statistician and historical writer.
Life
He was a native of Glasgow, and began life as a cabinet-maker, spending some in London. In 1803 he was made Bailie for the Gorbals area, and Bailie for the City in 1806. During his year as a Glasgow baillie in 1806-07,[1] Cleland prepared a report on the structural problems of the Episcopal chapel, St Andrew's-by-the-Green.[2] He was Treasurer for the city from 1808.[3]
He obtained in 1814 the post of superintendent of public works in Glasgow. In 1819 he was employed by the municipal authorities in taking a census of Glasgow, the most ambitious in the United Kingdom. He was similarly employed in 1821 and 1831.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e4/%22The_Cleland_Testimonial%22._-_geograph.org.uk_-_1017088.jpg/220px-%22The_Cleland_Testimonial%22._-_geograph.org.uk_-_1017088.jpg)
The "Cleland Testimonial" building in Buchanan Street, Glasgow, was designed by David Hamilton and was completed in 1836.[4] James Cleland lived there at the end of his life.[5] It is now a category B listed building.[6]
He lived his final years at 130 West Nile Street in central Glasgow[7] and died there in 1840.[8]
Works
Cleland published:
- Annals of Glasgow, Glasgow, 1816.
- Rise and Progress of the City of Glasgow, Glasgow, 1820.
- Enumeration of the Inhabitants of Glasgow, Glasgow, 1832.
- Historical Account of Bills of Mortality of the Probability of Human Life in Glasgow and other large towns, Glasgow, 1836.
- Description of the Banquet in honour of the Right Honourable Sir R. Peel, Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow, 13 Jan. 1837, Glasgow, 1837.
- Description of the City of Glasgow, Glasgow, 1843.
References
- Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. .
Notes
- ^ James Cleland (1816). Annals of Glasgow. Glasgow, Printed by J. Hedderwick. p. 179.
- ^ Glasgow City Archives, TD423/1/2, St Andrew's-by-the-Green Minute Book, p. 27
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Illustrated Catalogue of the Exhibition of Portraits in the New Galleries of Art in Corporation Buildings
- ^ scottisharchitects.org.uk, Cleland Testimonial Building
- ^ Raymond McKenzie; Gary Nisbet (2002). Public Sculpture of Glasgow. Liverpool University Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-85323-937-6.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "249 Buchanan Street and 1-7 (odd Nos) Sauchiehall Street "Cleland Testimonial Building" (Category B Listed Building) (LB33006)". Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ Glasgow Post Office Directory 1840
- ^ Illustrated Catalogue of the Exhibition of Portraits in the New Galleries of Art in Corporation Buildings
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Cleland, James". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.