87:, general merchants in Glasgow. After six years, the two brothers moved into shipping, joining with Hugh Mathie of Liverpool to establish a small shipping line of six sailing vessels plying between the two ports. The Clyde was then the leading waterway for steam navigation; within a year James and George Burns had ordered their first steamer, and they quickly replaced all their sail ships by steamboats. While George was mainly interested in the technical aspects of the ships, it was James who was the chief commercial influence in the business, supervising the day-to-day transactions, the negotiation of cargoes and contracts.
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The Mathie connection with
Liverpool was replaced in 1830 by a new arrangement with two Liverpool-based Scots, David and Charles MacIver, to form the Glasgow Steam Packet Company. This arrangement allowed James and George Burns to extend their steamship business to Londonderry, Larne, and Belfast. As
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and raised ÂŖ270,000 in subscriptions to establish the
British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. This company secured a seven-year contract from the Admiralty to carry the American mails by steamship. James and George, with the MacIvers, were founding partners and shareholders with
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in the new venture. While this took George's attention south to
Liverpool, James concentrated on the Glasgow business, and in 1845 G. and J. Burns acquired an interest in the developing west highland steamer services by purchasing the Castle Line. This however was quickly re-sold to their nephew
121:, and Bloomhall in Dunbartonshire. He spent much time on improvements and was a liberal supporter of religious and philanthropic enterprises. He died on 6 September 1871 at Kilmahew Castle, Cardross, Dumbarton, and was succeeded in his estates by his only son, John Burns.
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While the Irish Sea trade was their first and main business, two other avenues opened up to James and George Burns. In 1839 the
Liverpool connection was greatly strengthened when George Burns was introduced to
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Burns was married twice: first, to
Margaret Smith and, second, to Margaret Shortridge, who predeceased him. With Margaret Shortridge he had one son,
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before, George concentrated on the shipping department, while James was mainly responsible for the mercantile side of the business.
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44:(1744â1839), minister of the Barony parish of Glasgow, and his wife, Elizabeth, nÊe Stevenson. His eldest brother,
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He retired from active business and developed an interest in estate improvement, acquiring the estates of
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The Old
Country Houses of the Old Glasgow Gentry. John Guthrie Smith and John Oswald Mitchell, 1878.
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Unlike his older brothers, James Burns turned to commerce, and was joined by his younger brother,
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David
Macbrayne, their shipping clerk David Hutcheson, and his brother Alexander.
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32:(9 June 1789 â 6 September 1871), was a shipowner born in Glasgow.
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183:Memories and Portraits of 100 Glasgow Men, 1886.
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142:. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885â1900.
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185:This title on Glasgow Digital Library
179:This title on Glasgow Digital Library
52:, became physician to the empress of
235:19th-century Scottish businesspeople
230:18th-century Scottish businesspeople
83:(1795â1890), in 1818, setting up as
215:Scottish businesspeople in shipping
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139:Dictionary of National Biography
133:"Burns, James (1789-1871)"
40:Burns was the third son of the
16:Scottish shipowner (1789-1871)
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81:Sir George Burns, 1st Baronet
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210:Businesspeople from Glasgow
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220:Scottish company founders
156:"G&J Burns Timetable"
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25:James Burns (Shipowner)
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109:Later life and death
160:theglasgowstory.com
42:Revd Dr John Burns
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85:J. & G. Burns
46:Dr John Burns FRS
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225:Ship owners
205:1871 deaths
200:1789 births
119:Cumbernauld
69:Cunard Line
50:Allan Burns
30:James Burns
194:Categories
125:References
65:John Burns
115:Kilmahew
75:Shipping
165:13 May
102:Cunard
54:Russia
36:Family
167:2011
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