James Allen Ransome

James Allen Ransome (6 July 1806 – 29 August 1875), known as Allen Ransome, was an English agricultural-implement maker and agricultural writer, known from his 1843 publication of The Implements of Agriculture.[1] He was considered as "one of the leaders in a movement which, by bringing the science of the engineer to bear on the manufacture of implements for tilling the ground, has wrought, during the present century, an almost complete revolution in the practice of agriculture."[2]

Biography

James Allen Ransome was born in 1806 in Great Yarmouth as eldest son of the agricultural-implement maker James Ransome (1782–1849) and Hannah (Née Hunton), his wife. Thus he was also grandson of Robert Ransome (1753–1830), who co-founded Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies. In 1809 he moved with his family to Ipswich where he completed his education at Colchester in 1820.[3]

After leaving school, he became apprenticed to his grandfather, father, and uncle, who were then carrying on business in Ipswich as Ransome and Sons. From 1826 to 1839 he resided at Yoxford, Suffolk, where a branch of the business was established that he managed. He started a farmers' club[4] there which was the precursor of many similar institutions, notably the Farmers' Club of London, of which Ransome was one of the founders. In 1829 he became partner in the firm then trading under the altered title of J. R. and A. Ransome, and he married.

In 1839 he moved permanently to Ipswich to reside as one of the leading partners of a firm now written as Ransomes and Sims. Under his direction the business increased in size. In 1843 he published an excellent history of 'The Implements of Agriculture,' part of which had been prepared as a prize essay for the Royal Agricultural Society.

He had joined the society in 1838, served on its council, and was one of the most popular figures at its annual shows (cf. Farmers' Magazine, 1857, with portrait). He was alderman of Ipswich from 1865 until his death in 1875.

Ransome died 29 April 1875 at his house in Carr Street, Ipswich. By his wife Catherine (d. 17 April 1868), daughter of James Neave of Fordingbridge, Hampshire, whom he married on 4 September 1829, he left two sons, Robert James and Allen Ransome, and three daughters, one of whom married J. R. Jefferies, an active member of the firm.[5][6][7][8]

Political career

Allen was a Councillor for the Ipswich Corporation.

Selected publications

References

  1. ↑ The Farmer's Magazine. Rogerson and Tuxford, 1857. p. 1
  2. ↑ "James Allen Ransome: Obituary", Institution of Civil Engineers: Obituaries, 1875.
  3. ↑ "James Allen Ransome" in: The Farmer's Magazine, Rogerson and Tuxford, Vol. 11th, 3rd Series, January to July 1857. p. 1-2.
  4. ↑ Leonore Davidoff. Family Fortunes: Men and Women of the English Middle Class, 1780–1850. University of Chicago Press, 1991. p. 255-56
  5. ↑ Lee, Sidney, ed. (1896). "Ransome, Robert" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 47. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  6. ↑ Suffolk Chronicle for 1 and 8 May 1875
  7. ↑ Journals of Royal Agricultural Society, 1st ser. passim, 3rd ser. vol. v. (1894)
  8. ↑ Annual Monitor, 1869 p. 147, 1876 p. 146.
Attribution

This article incorporates public domain material from: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1896). "Ransome, Robert" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 47. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

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