Charles James Jackson
| Charles James Jackson | |
|---|---|
| Born |
2 May 1849 Monmouth, Wales |
| Died | 23 April 1923 (aged 73) London, England |
| Resting place | Putney Vale Cemetery |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation |
|
| Known for | Authority on gold and silver plate |
Sir Charles James Jackson (2 May 1849 – 23 April 1923) was a British businessman, collector, barrister, newspaper executive, politician, and writer, who was an authority on antique gold and silver plate.
Jackson was born in Monmouth, the son of James Edward Jackson and his wife, Mary Ann Bass. The Jackson family owned a building company in Monmouth, but in 1860 removed to Cardiff. There, they established a successful business, designing and constructing buildings and investing in commercial property. Charles Jackson described himself as an architect. In 1879 he stood as an independent candidate for Roath ward on Cardiff City Council, but was not elected. However, in 1882 he was elected as the Conservative councillor for the Cardiff East ward.
He stood down from the council in 1887, to complete his training as a barrister. In 1888, he was called to the bar at the Middle Temple, and thereafter developed his own practice on the South Wales legal circuit, as well as working on private Parliamentary bills relating to the building industry. After his sister Helen married Henry Lascelles Carr, the owner of the Western Mail who later became the proprietor of the News of the World, Charles Jackson became a director of the newspaper in 1893. In 1901, he moved to London, and lived at Hampstead and later in Knightsbridge. He succeeded Carr as chairman of the News of the World in 1902, and retained the post until his death. He was noted for attending the newspaper's printing each week, and gave tips of half a crown to the production and delivery staff for ensuring that it was printed in time for the night train.
Jackson's investments in the newspaper, and his property holdings, made him a wealthy man, and allowed him to indulge his passion for silver. He gradually built up a large collection, especially of silver spoons, and made extensive studies of silver held by museums and in church and municipal collections. In 1890, he read a paper to the Society of Antiquaries on the history of the spoon, and Queen Victoria allowed her silver-gilt Coronation spoon to be displayed at the meeting. He was elected as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1891.
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