James Stevenson, 1st Baron Stevenson, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Street Michael and Street George,, known as Sir James Stevenson, Bt, between 1917 and 1924, was a British businessman and civil servant.
Education
Stevenson was educated at the Kilmarnock Academy. lieutenant would appear that his education there was interrupted – perhaps because his parents had had to withdraw him due to an inability to pay school fees – for when he enrolled in 1887 he had a previous admission number.
Career
Stevenson joined the Johnnie Walker whisky blending company in 1888, working his way up to become its joint Managing Director. He is credited with having come up with the company"s advertising slogan "Born in 1820 – still going strong". During the First World War he was appointed to a senior position in the Ministry of Munitions and in return for his service was created a Baronet, of Walton Heath in the Parish of Walton-on-the-Hill in the County of Surrey, on 11 April 1917.
After the war he continued in government service and from 1921 he worked as a personal adviser to Winston Churchill, then Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Immediately after the First World War he was responsible for the Stevenson Plan, which was an effort by the United Kingdom government to stabilise low rubber prices after a world glut of rubber. Stevenson later chaired the Standing Committee responsible for the British Empire Exhibition (1924-1925).
London"s Wembley Stadium had been built as a temporary home for the exhibition, but Scotsman Stevenson fought successfully to prevent its demolition and it continued as an English national stadium into the 21st Century. He was raised to the peerage as Baron Stevenson, of Holmbury in the County of Surrey, on 7 May 1924, during the first premiership of Ramsay MacDonald.
He was the first person from Kilmarnock to be elevated to the peerage.
Lord Stevenson died on 10 June 1926, aged 53, when the baronetcy and barony became extinct. John Keith McBroom Laird (1907–1985) Canadian Senator – 2nd cousin, once removed Sir Alexander Stewart Stevenson (1860–1936) Edinburgh Lord Provost – uncle.
Membership
Stewart Stevenson (since 1946) Member of the Scottish Parliament (since 2001), Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (2007–2010), Minister for Environment and Climate Change (2011–2012) – 1st cousin, once removed.