Sir James Matheson

Matheson was a Scottish merchant and co-founder of the Kong-based trading conglomerate Jardine Matheson & Co. that became today's Jardine Matheson Holdings.

Born at Shinnes (Lairg), Matheson was educated at the High School and the University in Edinburgh. Before he moved to China, he worked as a merchant in India. Once in Canton, Matheson joined William Jardine and founded Jardine Matheson & Co. in the 1820s. The company mainly dealt in opium trade. Although Jardine, Matheson & Co. was primarily based in Hong Kong and Shangai, it had branches along the major trading routes within China, between China, Japan and Southeast Asia, as well as between East Asia and Europe. Matheson returned back to Scotland in 1842 and bought the Isle of Lewis. For his efforts to mitigate poverty in the islands, he was created the 1st Baronet of Lewis.