Sir James Whitehead, 1st Baronet DL (2 March 1834 – 20 October 1917) was a British merchant and Liberal Party politician.
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Early life
Whitehead was born near Sedbergh, Yorkshire. He was educated at the grammar school in Appleby-in-Westmorland (which became the current Appleby Grammar School), and was apprenticed as a draper in Kendal. He made his way to Bradford and then London, and married Mercy Mildred Hinds in 1860. He established a business on Gresham Street and co-founded the business of John Barker & Company, Kensington, in 1870.
Civic service
Having made his fortune, he retired from business in 1881 and concentrated on civic service. He became Alderman for Cheap ward in the City of London in 1882. He was Master of the Worshipful Company of Fanmakers in 1884, served as Sheriff that year and was then elected Lord Mayor of London for 1888. He replaced the circus-like Lord Mayor's Show with a State Procession, and was arbitrator in the London Dock Strike of 1889.
He also represented England at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1889. He was created a baronet on 26 November 1889, as Baronet Whitehead of Highfield House, Catford, then in Kent. He was appointed High Sheriff of the County of London for 1890.