James Spaight

Sir James Spaight (1818 – 21 January 1892) was an Irish Conservative politician.

Early life Spaight was the second son of Francis Spaight, the owner of the ill-fated Francis Spaight ship, and Agnes Paterson, daughter of James Campbell Paterson.

Political career In 1853, he was High Sheriff of Limerick City and later, in 1856, 1877 and 1883, he was Mayor of Limerick. At some point, he was also a justice of the peace and Deputy Lieutenant for County Tipperary.

Spaight was knighted in 1887. He was the vice-president of the Limerick Protestant Young Mens Association.

Spaight was also an active freemason, serving as Provincial Grand Master of North Munster.

Spaight was also a keen sailor, being made commodore of Lough Derg Yacht Club from 1846. One of his yachts, the Gossamer, was badly damaged by fire in 1846. Spaight had taken took a party of friends out on Lough Derg on Friday and returned back to Derry Castle at 10 o'clock. The yacht was powered by steam, and all the fires were quenched before the party disembarked, but the yacht was found to be completely burned to the waterline the following morning. One of Spaight's other yachts included the 12-ton sailing yacht Gem, which he used to compete in Lough Derg Yacht Club in 1847.

Personal life He married Elizabeth Alason Eckford, daughter of John Eckford, in 1850.