James Chaine
Encyclopedia
James Chaine was an Irish shipping businessman and a Conservative Party
politician from County Antrim
.
The son of James Chaine of Ballycraigy
and his wife Maria née Whittle from Antrim
, he was educated in Blackheath
and in 1863 he married Henrietta Creery from Newcastle, County Down
.
Chaine was influential in developing the cross-channel links between Larne
and Stranraer
, Scotland. He was the director of the Larne and Stanraer Boat Company, was the key figure behind the building of the Port and Harbour of Larne
. He promoted and financed construction of railroad lines from Larne to Ballyclare
and from Larne to Ballymena
(the Ballymena and Larne Railway
). He was elected at the 1874 general election
as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Antrim
, and held the seat until his death at the age of 43 in May 1885. Chaine, James Porter Corry
and William Ewart
formed a minority of Irish MPs from "the world of the big business" while the majority were either landowners or descendants of the landed families. Chaine himself became a major landowner by the purchase of a ₤64,000 estate in Carncastle
followed by a £22,000 estate in Killead
.
He died after catching a chill, which developed into pneumonia
. His estate was valued at ₤62,681.
The Chaine Memorial
, a replica Irish round tower
, was built in 1888 to commemorate James Chaine.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician from County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
.
The son of James Chaine of Ballycraigy
Ballycraigy
Ballycraigy is a mainly loyalist housing estate in Antrim, about 10 miles north of Belfast, Northern Ireland.Ballycraigy has its own band "Ballycraigy Sons of Ulster" with Purple/Lilac attire for their uniform. The ballycraigy estate is made up of the mostly Protestant religion group. Every July...
and his wife Maria née Whittle from Antrim
Antrim, County Antrim
Antrim is a town in County Antrim in the northeast of Northern Ireland, on the banks of the Six Mile Water, half a mile north-east of Lough Neagh. It had a population of 20,001 people in the 2001 Census. The town is the administrative centre of Antrim Borough Council...
, he was educated in Blackheath
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
and in 1863 he married Henrietta Creery from Newcastle, County Down
Newcastle, County Down
Newcastle is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 7,444 people recorded in the 2001 Census. The seaside resort lies on the Irish Sea coast at the base of Slieve Donard, one of the Mourne Mountains, and is known for its sandy beach and the Royal County Down Golf Club...
.
Chaine was influential in developing the cross-channel links between Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
and Stranraer
Stranraer
Stranraer is a town in the southwest of Scotland. It lies in the west of Dumfries and Galloway and in the county of Wigtownshire.Stranraer lies on the shores of Loch Ryan on the northern side of the isthmus joining the Rhins of Galloway to the mainland...
, Scotland. He was the director of the Larne and Stanraer Boat Company, was the key figure behind the building of the Port and Harbour of Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
. He promoted and financed construction of railroad lines from Larne to Ballyclare
Ballyclare
Ballyclare is a small town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 8,770 people in the 2001 Census...
and from Larne to Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
(the Ballymena and Larne Railway
Ballymena and Larne Railway
The Ballymena and Larne Railway was a narrow gauge railway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The first part opened in July 1877 and regular passenger services began in August 1878, the first on the three foot Irish narrow gauge...
). He was elected at the 1874 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1874
-Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
as the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Antrim
Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)
Antrim is former UK Parliament constituency in Ireland. It was a two member constituency and existed in two periods, 1801–1885 and 1922-1950.-Boundaries:...
, and held the seat until his death at the age of 43 in May 1885. Chaine, James Porter Corry
Sir James Corry, 1st Baronet
Sir James Porter Corry, 1st Baronet was a British politician. He served as a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1874 to 1885 and an Irish Unionist Alliance MP from 1886 until his death....
and William Ewart
Sir William Ewart, 1st Baronet
Sir William Ewart, 1st Baronet was an Irish linen manufacturer and Unionist politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1878 to 1889....
formed a minority of Irish MPs from "the world of the big business" while the majority were either landowners or descendants of the landed families. Chaine himself became a major landowner by the purchase of a ₤64,000 estate in Carncastle
Carncastle
Carncastle or Cairncastle is a small village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland near the town of Larne and inland from the village of Ballygally. It had a population of 66 people in the 2001 Census...
followed by a £22,000 estate in Killead
Killead
Killead is a small village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is near Aldergrove and Antrim. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 78 people.The village is near Belfast International Airport and is accessed from the A26 Tully Road.-People:...
.
He died after catching a chill, which developed into pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. His estate was valued at ₤62,681.
The Chaine Memorial
The Chaine Memorial
The Chaine Memorial Tower is a memorial to James Chaine, a former Member of Parliament for Larne, County Antrim. It is a cylindrical stone tower lighthouse with a conical roof, situated on the west side of entrance to Larne Lough...
, a replica Irish round tower
Irish round tower
Irish round towers , Cloigthithe – literally "bell house") are early medieval stone towers of a type found mainly in Ireland, with three in Scotland and one on the Isle of Man...
, was built in 1888 to commemorate James Chaine.