James Leatham MBE JP (1865–1945) was a 19th/20th century British socialist author and social reformer who devised a system of selective nationalisation. He is seen as a socialist pioneer.[1]
In 1890 he began publishing "The Workers Herald": Scotland's first socialist newspaper.[2]
cover of an 1891 penny pamphlet by William Morris published in Aberdeen by James Leatham
His book "The Most Important Thing in the World" (through accident rather than design), lays out the pattern of British social control which evolved in the later 20th century (but then evolved away from his principles): with local bodies running local services; but railways, national roads, mines etc. run on a nationalised basis. He called this system a Co-operative commonwealth.[3]
He was born at 32 Forbes Street in Aberdeen on 19 December 1865. He never knew his father, a Yorkshireman serving with the East India Company as a soldier, who died of cholera in India before James was born. As his "father" left for India over 9 months before his birth his birth certificate records him as "illegitimate". James and his four older siblings were raised by his mother, Margaret Catanach, in the home of her father, a weaver and Chartist.[2] In 1879 they moved to 12 Short Loanings in Aberdeen. He was apprenticed as a printer around 1880. He worked as a compositor in the north of England and in Peterhead.[4]
In 1897 he founded and was editor of the "Peterhead Sentinel", a local newspaper. Later in Yorkshire he founded the "Cottingham Press", which published "The Gateway" from 1912 until 1945, a monthly magazine aimed at Scots at home and abroad. Regular contributors to "The Gateway" included Ramsay MacDonald, May Morris and Lord Boothby.[5]
From 1911 to 1913 he lived at 68 Schoolhill in Aberdeen, where a plaque is now erected in his memory.[6]
Yellow plaque marking residence on Schoolhill of James Leatham, Social reformer
He spent his final years in Turriff running the Deveron Press. He joined Turriff Town Council in 1923 and served as Provost of Turriff from 1933 until death.[5]
^Grave of James Leatham, St Machar's Cathedral, Old aberdeen
April 12, 2024
james, leatham, 1865, 1945, 19th, 20th, century, british, socialist, author, social, reformer, devised, system, selective, nationalisation, seen, socialist, pioneer, born, 1865, december, 1865aberdeendied, 1945, december, 1945, aged, nationalitybritishoccupati. James Leatham MBE JP 1865 1945 was a 19th 20th century British socialist author and social reformer who devised a system of selective nationalisation He is seen as a socialist pioneer 1 James LeathamM B E Born 1865 12 19 December 19 1865AberdeenDied 1945 12 14 14 December 1945 aged 79 NationalityBritishOccupation s Socialist Author Social Reformer JournalistYears active1897 1945Known forConcept of Co operative CommonwealthIn 1890 he began publishing The Workers Herald Scotland s first socialist newspaper 2 cover of an 1891 penny pamphlet by William Morris published in Aberdeen by James LeathamHis book The Most Important Thing in the World through accident rather than design lays out the pattern of British social control which evolved in the later 20th century but then evolved away from his principles with local bodies running local services but railways national roads mines etc run on a nationalised basis He called this system a Co operative commonwealth 3 Contents 1 Life 2 Publications 3 Family 4 ReferencesLife edit nbsp The grave of James Leatham St Machar s CathedralHe was born at 32 Forbes Street in Aberdeen on 19 December 1865 He never knew his father a Yorkshireman serving with the East India Company as a soldier who died of cholera in India before James was born As his father left for India over 9 months before his birth his birth certificate records him as illegitimate James and his four older siblings were raised by his mother Margaret Catanach in the home of her father a weaver and Chartist 2 In 1879 they moved to 12 Short Loanings in Aberdeen He was apprenticed as a printer around 1880 He worked as a compositor in the north of England and in Peterhead 4 In 1897 he founded and was editor of the Peterhead Sentinel a local newspaper Later in Yorkshire he founded the Cottingham Press which published The Gateway from 1912 until 1945 a monthly magazine aimed at Scots at home and abroad Regular contributors to The Gateway included Ramsay MacDonald May Morris and Lord Boothby 5 From 1911 to 1913 he lived at 68 Schoolhill in Aberdeen where a plaque is now erected in his memory 6 nbsp Yellow plaque marking residence on Schoolhill of James Leatham Social reformerHe spent his final years in Turriff running the Deveron Press He joined Turriff Town Council in 1923 and served as Provost of Turriff from 1933 until death 5 He died on 14 December 1945 a few days before his 80th birthday He is buried in the churchyard of St Machar s Cathedral in Old Aberdeen 2 Publications editOver and above his own printing he was a regular contributor to the Aberdeen Press amp Journal He was author of numerous books Petri Promontorium Peterhead and the Howes o Buchan 1901 Daavit the True Story of a Personage biography of David Scott The Style of Louis StevensonFamily editHe was married to Isobel Duncan d 1947 His daughter May Morris Leatham married Commander Stephen Hudson Smiles RNR 7 References edit Duncan Robert 1948 2016 James Leatham 1865 1945 profile of a socialist pioneer Turriff ISBN 978 1 910601 26 6 OCLC 969565471 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link a b c James Leatham 1865 1945 Find A Grave Memorial Find a Grave Entire Collection The Voice of Radicalism University of Aberdeen www abdn ac uk James Leatham author and publisher 1865 1945 7 September 2014 a b Papers of James Leatham 1865 1945 author and publisher Archives Hub This page cannot be found 11 September 2021 Grave of James Leatham St Machar s Cathedral Old aberdeen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Leatham amp oldid 1144762069, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
