James Buchanan, First Baron Woolavington

James Buchanan was born in Brockville, Ontario, Canada, in 1849. He was the third and youngest son of Alexander Buchanan and his wife Catherine (née McLean), Scottish immigrants, but his parents returned to the United Kingdom shortly after he was born and he was brought up in Larne, Northern Ireland, where his father worked as a quarry manager.

James joined a Glasgow shipping firm as an office boy when he was 14, and was later promoted to clerk. In 1868, he joined his brother William in his grain business, also in Glasgow.

In November 1879, he moved to London as an agent for the Leith whisky blenders Charles Mackinlay & Co.

He began his career in 1879 as agent for a whisky firm; moving to London as a representative. He realised that there was an untapped market for bottled Scotch whisky and set about producing his own: the Buchanan Blend, which is still available today. Charm, diligence and patience created a blend, that in his own words, was “sufficiently light and old to please the palate”. It brought him one of the largest fortunes in Britain.

James Buchanan put his blend in a black bottle with a white label leading to what we know today as ‘Black and White Whisky’.

Buchanan did not, however, produce his own whisky. It was produced for him by the Glasgow blenders W. P. Lowrie & Co.

In 1898 he opened Glentauchers malt whisky distillery on Speyside and later acquired two more distilleries. In 1906, he bought Lowrie's and rapidly mechanised their production facilities in Glasgow.

He gave generously to Edinburgh University, Middlesex Hospital and he restored St.George’s Chapel Windsor. However is was his interest in horses and art for which he is best remember.

In 1903 he purchased Lavington Park in Sussex and formed a racing stud which probably stimulated him to become one of the greatest collectors of English sporting art of all time.

James Buchanan was created a baronet, of Lavington in the County of Sussex, in the 1920 New Year Honours, for “public and local services.” He was raised to the peerage in the 1922 New Year Honours as Baron Woolavington, of Lavington, in the County of Sussex, for being a “generous supporter of many public and charitable objects”.

Lord Woolavington died in 1935 and left his art collection to his daughter Catherine and her husband, Major ( later Sir) Reginald Macdonald-Buchanan. Together they purchased Cottesbrooke Hall built about 1710, which provided a perfect setting for the family and their growing collection.

Lord Woolavington laid the foundations upon which they have spectacularly built. Later generations have continued to build on the art collection and it continues to be maintained by the new generation of Alastair and Sheran Macdonald-Buchanan.

Reference

Buchanan whisky is a formidable legacy, even today. Click here to learn more about whisky.