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Sir James Glasgow Acheson

1 of 3 portraits of Sir James Glasgow Acheson

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Sir James Glasgow Acheson

by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, 9 July 1948
5 7/8 in. x 4 1/4 in. (150 mm x 107 mm)
Commissioned, 1948
Photographs Collection
NPG x163401

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Walter Stoneman (1876-1958), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 18527 portraits, Sitter in 8 portraits.

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Events of 1948back to top

Current affairs

Prince Charles is born in Buckingham Palace; he is the first son of Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh
The Secretary of State for Health, Aneurin Bevan, introduces the National Health Service. Health services in Britain were now funded from central taxation and free at the point of use for every resident of the country.

Art and science

The First Morris Minor car designed by Alec Issigonis and his team (also responsible for the Mini) takes to the road, becoming a popular and classic English design.
F.R. Leavis publishes his influential study of the English novel, The Great Tradition. The book set out Leavis's ideas on the proper relationship between literary form and moral concern.

International

The policy of Apartheid is adopted in South Africa. Apartheid was a set of laws allowing racial segregation and discrimination against the black majority by the white ruling class.
As part of the dispute between Western and Soviet controlled Berlin, the Soviet Union blockades West Berlin, cutting off supplies. Anxious to avoid a conflict, America, Britain and France responded by flying in food and other provisions.

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Rev. James Malcolm Acheson

12 April 2018, 23:48

Sir James Glasgow Acheson, Kt., C.I.E. (known in the family as Jim) was born on 24th January 1889 at Dunavon (a large Victorian house built 1885-6) in Carrickblacker Road, Portadown, County Armagh, Ireland. His parents were John Acheson J.P. (linen manufacturer), and Harriet (Glasgow) Acheson who campaigned strongly for social justice and for fair treatment of tenant farmers by their landlords. They were Ulster Liberal in their politics and Presbyterian in their Church allegiance.

James was educated at Edenderry National School and possibly at another school in Portadown. His secondary education was at St. Andrew's College, Dublin, a Presbyterian school founded in 1894.
He was a Scholar of Trinity College, Dublin (also then known as Dublin University), where he excelled both academically (Greek and Latin literature, German literature), and as a sportsman (represented the University in Rugby football and rowing).

From 1913 to 1945 James served in the Indian Civil Service (Political Department from 1920). His service was in the United Provinces; Delhi/Simla (twice officiating in the Government of India as Foreign Secretary); then in Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier Province; his final post was as Political Resident in Kashmir 1943-45. He was appointed C.I.E. in 1929 and Knight Bachelor in 1945.
In 1917 he married Violet Catherine French Field (Vio), later Lady Acheson. She became Chief Commissioner of the All-India Girl Guides and was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal.

Sir James served with the Control Commission for Germany as Regional Governmental Officer for Schleswig-Holstein (second-in-command of the region) based in Kiel, 1946-8. In 1950 he was Chairman of the Magee Committee which explored the future of university education in Ulster.

In 1949 Sir James and Lady Acheson retired to Herefordshire, living firstly in Ross-on-Wye and then in Much Birch. Sir James supported his son Anthony in establishing a fruit farm (Long Orchard Farm, Much Birch) and undertook a number of roles in the local community.

Sir James died on 5th October 1973, and his wife on 4th August 1974. Their ashes are buried together in Much Birch churchyard, and the Rector's stall inside the church was given in their memory. The oak carvings on the stall are by Jane Fenella (Nell) Glover nee Acheson, grand-daughter of the couple, representing aspects of their lives. UNA CUM FIDELIBUS, the inscription on the stall suggested by their friend Canon Claude Armstrong, means "Together with the Faithful".

ohn Glasgow Faris, grand nephew of J G Acheson

03 March 2017, 13:03

J G Acheson had a daughter, Janey Ironside, first ever professor of fashion design at the Royal College of Art and a granddaughter Virginia Ironside, journalist and "agony aunt" .

John Glasgow Faris, grand nephew of J G Acheson

28 February 2017, 16:56

An older sister of James Glasgow Acheson was Anne Acheson, sculptor and pioneer in developing surgical splints in the 1914-18 War. He was named for his mother's father Rev James Glasgow, (1805-1890) pioneer Irish Presbyterian missionary in Gujarat, India.