James Simpson (9 July 1812 – 2 September 1859) was a Bible Christian deacon and activist for a number of causes. He was active in the

vegetarianism Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the Eating, consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects as food, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slau ...

, temperance, anti-tobacco, anti-Corn Law and

peace Peace is a state of harmony in the absence of hostility and violence, and everything that discusses achieving human welfare through justice and peaceful conditions. In a societal sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (suc ...

movements. Simpson co-founded and served as the first President of the

Vegetarian Society The Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom (VSUK) is a British Registered charity in England, registered charity. It campaigns for dietary changes, licenses Vegetarian Society Approved trademarks for Vegetarianism, vegetarian and Veganism, v ...

Biography

Early life and education

James Simpson Jr. was born on 9 July 1812, in

Clitheroe Clitheroe () is a town and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Ribble Valley, Borough of Ribble Valley, Lancashire, England; it is located north-west of Manchester. It is near the Forest of Bowland and is often used as a base for to ...

, Lancashire. He was the son of James Simpson Sr., a wealthy calico printer. Soon after his birth, his family moved to Foxhill Bank, near

Accrington Accrington is a town in the Hyndburn borough of Lancashire, England. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, east of Preston, north of Manchester and is situated on the culverted River Hyndburn. Commonly abbreviated by locals to ...

. His family were members of the

Bible Christian Church The Bible Christian Church was a Methodist denomination founded by William O'Bryan (born Bryant), a Wesleyan Methodist local preacher, on 18 October 1815 in North Cornwall. The first society, consisting of just 22 members, met at Lake Farm ...

. Simpson was educated by Rev. W. Wood at Hybrake House, Altham. He also received a private education in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

and

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

, intended to pursue a career in law. However, his moral principles deterred him from pursuing this career. Following his father's death, he inherited a large fortune.

Career

Actively engaged in public life, Simpson supported diverse social and political reforms. A member of the Anti-Corn Law League, he was also involved in the

temperance movement The temperance movement is a social movement promoting Temperance (virtue), temperance or total abstinence from consumption of alcoholic beverages. Participants in the movement typically criticize alcohol intoxication or promote teetotalism, and ...

during a time when such a choice was uncommon. He served as Vice-President of the

United Kingdom Alliance The United Kingdom Alliance (UKA) was a British temperance organisation. It was founded in 1853 in Manchester to work for the prohibition of the trade in alcohol in the United Kingdom. This occurred in a context of support for the type of law p ...

. Additionally, he was a prominent member of the Lancashire

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

. He was also a justice of the peace for the

county palatine In England, Wales and Ireland a county palatine or palatinate was an area ruled by a hereditary nobleman enjoying special authority and autonomy from the rest of a kingdom. The name derives from the Latin adjective ''palātīnus'', "relating t ...

of Lancaster. Embracing the tenets of the Bible Christian Church and influenced by

Swedenborg Emanuel Swedenborg (; ; born Emanuel Swedberg; (29 January 168829 March 1772) was a Swedish polymath; scientist, engineer, astronomer, anatomist, Christian theologian, philosopher, and mystic. He became best known for his book on the afterlife, ...

, Simpson maintained a lifelong commitment to

, instilled by his mother. He served as a deacon of the Church. Simpson helped form and was elected the first president of the

in 1847. His travels abroad led to the establishment of international vegetarian societies. He also anonymously published two works on vegetarianism.

Personal life and death

Simpson married Hannah Harvey in 1843. They had two children. His father-in-law was

William Harvey William Harvey (1 April 1578 – 3 June 1657) was an English physician who made influential contributions to anatomy and physiology. He was the first known physician to describe completely, and in detail, pulmonary and systemic circulation ...

, who was

Mayor of Salford The Mayor of Salford is a directly elected politician responsible for the executive functions of Salford City Council, created in 2012 for the City of Salford in Greater Manchester. The position is different from the long-existing and largely c ...

from 1857 to 1859 and a prominent Bible Christian. Simpson died on 2 September 1859, at the age of 47. He had suffered from a long illness for 18 months. Simpson was buried at St James' Church, Church Kirk. A high memorial obelisk was erected there.

Legacy

One of Simpson's lectures on vegetarianism inspired T. Anderson Hanson to become a vegetarian.

Selected publications

* ''The Products of the Vegetable Kingdom vs the Flesh of Animals as Food'' 'Part I' (London: Whittaker, 1847) * ''A Few Recipes of Vegetable Diet with Suggestions for the Formation of a Dietary, from which the Flesh of Animals is Excluded...'' (London: Whittaker, 1847) *
A Letter to the Rt. Hon. H. Labouchere, on the more effective application of the system of relief by means of Soup Kitchens
' (London: Whittaker, 1847)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, James 1812 births 1859 deaths 19th-century English philanthropists 19th-century English Christian clergy 19th-century English male writers 19th-century pseudonymous writers Activists from Lancashire Anti-smoking activists Bible Christians English social reformers Burials in Lancashire Christian vegetarians Clergy from Lancashire Deacons English anti-war activists English cookbook writers English male non-fiction writers English temperance activists English vegetarianism activists Organization founders People associated with the Vegetarian Society People from Accrington People from Clitheroe Vegetarian cookbook writers Vegetarianism writers