James Fletcher, Esq.
(1807-1885)
13 May 1862

Volume 6, page 303, sitting number 8081.

Born at Elgin in Morayshire on 13 August 1807, James Fletcher was the son of manufacturer William Fletcher. At the time of his birth, the family name was Jack, not Fletcher, but at some point and for some reason, at least James and his brother John changed their surname to Fletcher. John, who also adopted the middle name Charles, was another Silvy sitter. [His and his wife's portraits appear on page 22 of this section.]

John and James left Elgin for Liverpool, where they both made fortunes importing alpaca from South America. According to one internet source, a third brother was also involved but he somehow failed to grow as rich as his siblings, who both left vast estates when they died. John's was worth £800,000 and James's was valued at a phenomenal £1,394,503. He used his wealth to fund many philanthropic ventures, including several in his native Elgin, and he bought and embellish a large house called Rosehaugh near Avoch on the Black Isle, draining a nearby loch and adding greatly to the size of his property. His son John Douglas Fletcher enhanced the house still further, with the aid of Inverness architect William Flockhart. It was demolished in 1959.

On 21 July 1852 James Fletcher — still at this point named James Jack —married Frederica Mary May née Stephen. Born at St Helier in Jersey, she was the daughter of solicitor John Stephen and the widow of Lieutenant Alexander McLeod Hay of the 58th Regiment. 

When the census was taken in 1861, James and Frederica were at their other residence, Woolton Hill near Liverpool, with thier seven-year-old son Alfred, Frederica's daughter by her first marriage Mary M. Hay, three visitors and five live-in servants, with more accomodated in outlying buildings. James gave as his profession 'South American merchant.'

James died at Rosehaugh on 1 October 1885 and was buried in the churchyard at Avoch. 

Lengthy obituaries appeared in several Highland newspapers. According to one, 'he also took a keen and capable interest in commercial enterprises in England. He was Chairman and Director for many years of the London and North-Western Railway; the Pacific Steam Navigation Company; and the Commercial Bank, Liverpool. [...] He was most lavish in his charities, and was a substantial supporter of movements having for their object the good of his people and neighbourhood. [...] In the closing years of his life he was a rigid abstainer, and gave an active support to the temperance movement' (Highland News, 5 October 1885).