1276 Sir James Kitson

Constituency  : Colne  Valley  1892-1907

Sir  James  took  Colne  Valley  from  the  Liberal  Unionists.

James  was  the  son  of  a  locomotive  manufacturer. He  was  educated  locally  and  at  University  College, London. James  himself  developed  an  iron  foundry  into  a  large  company  with  his  brothers.  He  was  the  largest  employer  in  Leeds. He  was  a  Unitarian. He  became  President  of  the  Leeds  Liberal  Association  and  ran  campaigns  for  Herbert  Gladstone. In  1883  he  became  President  of  the  National  Liberal  Federation  and  held  the  position  for  the  next  seven  years. In  1886  he  was  created  a  baronet.

James  was  a  loyal  Gladstonian  supporting  Home  Rule, education  reform   and  old  age  pensions. He  supported  the  Yorkshire  College  which  became  Leeds  University. He  became  the  first  Lord  Mayor  of  Leeds  in  1896-7.

James  had  a  country  house  near  Leeds  where  he  entertained  the  Gladstones  and, on  one  occasion,  the  Prince  of  Wales.

In  1907  Sir  James  was  created  Baron  Airedale.

He  died  in  Paris  of  a  heart  attack  in  1911  aged  75.