James Ivory (watchmaker)

James Ivory
James Ivory pocket watch #109
Born	1729 (1729) Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	1793 (aged 63–64) Dundee, Scotland
Nationality	Scottish
Fields	Watchmaker

James Ivory (1729 – 1793) was a Scottish Watchmaker, clockmaker, and engraver. He was briefly followed by his son Thomas Ivory.

James Ivory was a very prominent watchmaker and clockmaker in Dundee, Scotland during the mid-to-late 18th century. Born in Liberton, near Edinburgh in 1729, he worked as an apprentice in London, England. There he married Jane Brown on 27 January 1761 at St. Clement Danes Church in London. In late 1762 he returned to Scotland to work in Dundee, where he lived until his death in 1793. On 17 February 1765 his first son Sir James Ivory was born in Dundee. His wife Jane however died shortly after child birth. He went on to marry Margaret Cook on 16 September 1768. James's second son Thomas who was born on 5 April 1770, followed after his father and became a watchmaker in 1795 in his own right after apprenticing under his father. He later gave up the trade in 1800 to work in publishing until his death in 1825. Thomas in turn named his son James who later become known as Lord Ivory. James Ivory had a total of 3 sons and 2 daughters through his two marriages including his step children.

James Ivory rose to considerable eminence as a renowned clockmaker in Dundee and throughout the United Kingdom. He was entrusted with the making of the clock for the steeple of St. Andrew's Parish Church in the Cowgate area of Dundee in 1774 which is still in use today. He also served as a Dundee Town Councillor from 1768 until 1789. It was while acting in this capacity that his first son, mathematician Sir James Ivory, was appointed one of the teachers at the Dundee Academy.