James Beckford Wildman
English businessman and politician
About James Beckford Wildman
Lived 1789 – 1867 (aged 77–78). James Beckford Wildman was a British politician, businessperson and plantation owner.
James Beckford Wildman (19 October 1789 – 25 May 1867) was an English landowner and Tory politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Colchester from 1818 to 1826. His properties included plantations in Jamaica and Chilham Castle in Kent, England, which he sold in 1861. The Jamaican plantation, Quebec Estate, was obtained by the Wildman family from William Beckford. Beckford claimed to have been swindled by the Wildmans, who pressured him to sign over the property under threat of calling in outstanding mortgages.
Quebec Estate was one of the largest sugar plantations in Jamaica with well over 800 slaves (the average at that time was 200). The profits from this plantation allowed Thomas Wildman to purchase (and renovate) Newstead Abbey from Lord Byron.
In 1830, Wildman complained to Viscount Goderich about the treatment of one of his slaves, Eleanor James, by the proprietor of an estate called North Hall. (James was flogged for requesting payment for a hog.) In 1840, Joseph John Gurney visited the estate and described the trial of a Myalist that took place there.
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Important facts
People in James Beckford Wildman's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was James Beckford Wildman?
English businessman and politician
When was James Beckford Wildman born?
James Beckford Wildman was born in 1789.
When did James Beckford Wildman die?
James Beckford Wildman died in 1867.
What was James Beckford Wildman's occupation?
James Beckford Wildman was a politician, businessperson and plantation owner.
What nationality was James Beckford Wildman?
James Beckford Wildman was British.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: James Beckford Wildman
· DBpedia: James Beckford Wildman
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Beckford Wildman. https://biography.guide/james-beckford-wildman/
MLA: "James Beckford Wildman." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-beckford-wildman/.
Chicago: "James Beckford Wildman." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-beckford-wildman/.
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