James Evan Baillie was a British West Indies merchant, landowner and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1813 and 1835.
Background
Baillie was the third son of Evan Baillie of Dochfour and his wife Mary Gurley, daughter of Peter Gurley of Saint Vincent. His father was a landowner in Scotland with commercial interests in Bristol including the firm of Evan Baillie, Sons & Company Baillie, together with his older brother Hugh Duncan Baillie, became a partner in the Bristol Old Bank in 1812 after death of his brother Peter Baillie.
Career
In parliament he was in favour of parliamentary reform and catholic relief. Baillie continued to buy land in Scotland after his father"s death in 1835 and bought Glentrome in Badenoch in 1835. He had been a prominent opponent of abolition but after abolition received a slave compensation of £53,964 in 1835-1836.
This money was invested in further Scottish estates at Glenelg in 1837, Glenshiel in 1838 and Letterfinlay in 1851.
Baillie never married and died at the age of 82.
Membership
5th United Kingdom Parliament. 9th United Kingdom Parliament. 10th United Kingdom Parliament.
11th United Kingdom Parliament]
In 1813 Baillie became Member of Parliament for Tralee and held the seat until 1818.
Baillie was a partner in J East Baillie, Fraser & Company of Bristol, Chairman of British Guiana Association, president of Whig Anchor club of Bristol and a Member of Brook"s club He became Member of Parliament for Bristol in 1830 and held the seat until 1835.