Sir James Lithgow (1883-1952 : 1st Baronet of Ormsary, shipbuilder and industrialist : Glasgow, Scotland)

Sir James Lithgow was born on 27 January 1883 in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, Scotland, son of William Todd Lithgow ( 1854-1908 ) and Agnes Birkmyre. He was educated at Glasgow Academy, Glasgow, Scotland and at Paris, France, under a private tutor. In 1901 , he passed up the opportunity to go to university to take up an apprenticeship at the family shipyard, Russell & Co , Port Glasgow. He became a partner in his father's business in 1907 and the following year, on the death of his father, he assumed joint ownership with his brother, Henry Lithgow ( 1887-1948 ). In 1911, James Lithgow was appointed vice-president of the Clyde Shipbuilders Association, for the year 1912-1913 .

The 1914-1918 World War interrupted his shipbuilding career, serving with the Army. His company spent the first part of the war on garrison duty on the river Clyde, Scotland and then in France from 1916 until May 1917 . That year he was made Lieutenant Colonel and finished the war a brevet Colonel. His brother remained behind in charge of the shipyard and its vital war work.

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