James Simmons (1741–1807)
James Simmons | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Canterbury, England |
| Died | January 22, 1807 (aged 66) London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, newspaper publisher, bookseller, banker, politician |
| Years active | 1767–1807 |
| Known for | Founding the Kentish Gazette; local politics in Canterbury; co-founding Canterbury Bank; Member of Parliament for Canterbury |
James Simmons (22 January 1741 – 22 January 1807) was an entrepreneur involved in newspaper publishing, bookselling, banking, and local politics. He participated actively in Canterbury’s municipal affairs and represented the city in the House of Commons from 1806 until his death in 1807.
Biography
James Simmons was born in Canterbury to William Simmons, who worked as a wig maker. He attended King's School, Canterbury between 1749 and 1755 before undertaking an apprenticeship as a stationer in London starting in 1757. He completed this apprenticeship and gained his freedom in 1764. By 1767, Simmons had become a freeman of Canterbury through patrimony and commenced his career as a stationer.
In 1768, he established the bi-weekly Kentish Gazette to compete with the established Kentish Post. Following a short-lived dispute with other local printers, Simmons entered into a lasting business partnership with Kirkby. Their enterprise operated initially on High Street and subsequently moved to the King's Arms Printing Office & Library located on St George's Street.
The company’s activities extended beyond newspaper production to include stationery sales, bookbinding, printing services, circulating libraries, and the retail of patent medicines.
Politics
Simmons held multiple positions within Canterbury’s local government: he was elected to the Common Council in 1769, served as Sheriff from 1772 to 1773, became an Alderman in 1774, and was appointed Mayor for the first time in 1776. Between 1787 and 1791, he acted as Treasurer for the Pavement Commission, managing urban improvements such as market enhancements and overseeing the removal of medieval gates during his second mayoral term. Additionally, he acquired and developed the Dane John Gardens, an important public park.
His commercial interests grew to include the role of Distributor of Stamps for East Kent starting in 1782, and he co-founded the Canterbury Bank alongside Henry Gipps. This bank eventually merged with Lloyds Bank in 1918. The bank operated from premises at St Margaret's Street and High Street.
In 1791, Simmons ventured into milling by commissioning Abbot's Mill on the River Stour, designed by engineer John Smeaton. He also initiated a canal project intended to connect Canterbury with Reculver; however, this plan was abandoned by 1825 in favor of railway developments proposed by George Stephenson.
Simmons was elected as Member of Parliament for Canterbury in October 1806 but served only briefly before passing away in London in early 1807. His final resting place is at St Mildred's Churchyard in Canterbury. He married Charlotte Mantell from Tenterden in 1776.