James Mills (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Sir James Mills was a prominent New Zealand
businessman and politician. He founded the Union Steam Ship Company
in Dunedin
in 1875.
Mills was born in Wellington
and started as clerk to Johnny Jones, and after Jones’ death floated the Union Company with backing from Peter Denny
in return for orders for his Dumbarton shipyard in Scotland. The Union Company became a major shipping line, with a near-monopoly on trans-Tasman shipping, and was referred to as the Southern Octopus.
He represented Waikouaiti
on the Otago Provincial Council
from 1873 to 1875, and Port Chalmers in Parliament from 1887 to 1893, when he retired.
He was knight
ed in 1907, and made KCMG
in 1909.
The Union Company was sold by Mills to the P&O Line in 1917. He died in London
in 1936, having been a UK resident since 1907.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
businessman and politician. He founded the Union Steam Ship Company
Union Company
The Union Company, Union Steam Ship Company , or Union Line was started in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1875, when it was floated by James Mills, who had been clerk to Johnny Jones and his Harbour Steam Company....
in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
in 1875.
Mills was born in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and started as clerk to Johnny Jones, and after Jones’ death floated the Union Company with backing from Peter Denny
Peter Denny
-Career:Denny was a Director of William Denny and Brothers Limited, British & Burmese Steam Navigation Company, the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company and others.-References:...
in return for orders for his Dumbarton shipyard in Scotland. The Union Company became a major shipping line, with a near-monopoly on trans-Tasman shipping, and was referred to as the Southern Octopus.
He represented Waikouaiti
Waikouaiti
Waikouaiti is a small town in East Otago, New Zealand, within the city limits of Dunedin. The town is close to the coast and the mouth of the Waikouaiti River....
on the Otago Provincial Council
Otago Province
The Otago Province was a province of New Zealand until the abolition of provincial government in 1876.-Area:The capital of the province was Dunedin...
from 1873 to 1875, and Port Chalmers in Parliament from 1887 to 1893, when he retired.
He was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in 1907, and made KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1909.
The Union Company was sold by Mills to the P&O Line in 1917. He died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1936, having been a UK resident since 1907.