James Irvine (Quebec businessman)

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For other people with the same name, see James Irvine.

James Irvine (1766 – September 27, 1829) was a businessman and political figure in Lower Canada.

He was born in England in 1766, from parents of Scottish descent, and came to Quebec City with his family in 1766. He formed a retail firm in partnership with John Munro that operated until 1797, when Irvine returned to England. The following year, he formed an import/export company with John McNaught and later James Leslie. Irvine served as chairman for the Quebec Committee of Trade from 1809 to 1822. He also was warden of Trinity House of Quebec. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for the Upper Town in 1810 and served until 1814. He was a member of the Executive Council from 1808 to 1822. Irvine served as a member of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada from 1818 to 1829. In 1824, he represented Lower Canada in the arbitration for the sharing of customs duties with Upper Canada. He was a member of the local militia, serving during the War of 1812 and eventually attaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and also served as justice of the peace. Irvine was a member of the Quebec Fire Society, serving as president in 1807.

He died in Quebec City in 1829.