James Hume

James Hume (27 February 1823 – 28 August 1896) was a New Zealand asylum superintendent and one of the founders of the asylum Ashburn Hall near Dunedin.

Life Hume was born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 27 February 1823. He worked at the Gartnavel Asylum in Glasgow and the Worcester County Asylum before emigrating to Dunedin in 1863. The same year Hume's son William was admitted to the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum. He was the non-medical superintendent until 1896 while Alexander was the medical officer. The asylum's patients were largely middle-class who had to be able to pay for their care; Hume and Alexander believed that those of better class should not have to mix with the 'insane poor' with insanity largely attributed to the poor.

Death and legacy Hume died at Ashburn Hall on 28 August 1896.