James Fletcher (industrialist)

James Fletcher (industrialist)

Sir James Fletcher (29 March 1886 - 1974) was a New Zealand industrialist who founded Fletcher Construction, one of the country's largest firms. His son, Sir James Fletcher Junior, continued to build the corporation.

Early life

Fletcher was born at Kirkintilloch, Scotland, and was educated in Glasgow. He was the sixth of thirteen childrencite web|title=University of Auckland Business History Project - Fletcher Challenge|url=http://www.businesshistory.auckland.ac.nz/fletchers/founders.html|publisher=University of Auckland|accessdate=2007-08-31] . He migrated to Dunedin, New Zealand in 1908.He donated New Zealand Marble to the town of Kirkintilloch in 1925 to construct a War Memorial which stands today at the entrance to the town's Peel Park.

Fletcher Construction

In 1908 he established a building business with his brother, known as Fletcher Brothers. In 1916 the partnership was formed as a limited liability company, and from 1919 was called the Fletcher Construction Company. In 1940, the company was renamed Fletcher Holdings. James Fletcher moved the businesses headquarters to Auckland in 1925. The company grew despite the difficult economic conditions, completing a number of major construction projects, such as the Chateau Tongariro and Dominion Museum in 1929.

Following the election of the First Labour Government in 1935, James Fletcher established an enduring friendship with the government. Fletchers' built some of the first state houses in New Zealand.

James was seconded by the government in 1942. His second eldest son, also called James, took over the running of Fletcher Holdings at this time. Throughout the Second World War he held several positions, first as Commissioner of Defence Construction, then Superintendent of Military Works, and later Controller of Shipping.

James had many other business interests, including the Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), the Tasman Pulp and Paper Company, and New Zealand Paper Mills. Sir James Senior was knighted in 1946cite web|title=FLETCHER, Sir James|publisher=Te Ara|author=New Zealand Encyclopaedia, 1966|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/F/FletcherSirJames/FletcherSirJames/en|accessdate=2007-08-31] .

References

External links

* [http://www.fletchertrust.co.nz/ The Fletcher Trust]

ee also

* James Muir Cameron Fletcher
* Hugh Fletcher
* Fletcher Construction
* Fletcher Challenge


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • James Fletcher — may refer to:* James Cooley Fletcher (1823 1901), American Presbyterian minister and missionary * James Fletcher (Australian politician) * James Fletcher (entomologist) Canadian entomologist, botanist and writer * J. M. J. Fletcher, English… …   Wikipedia

  • James Muir Cameron Fletcher — Infobox Person name = Sir James Fletcher Jnr caption = Portrait of Sir James Fletcher Jnr birth date = 25 December 1914 birth place = Dunedin, NZL death date =death date and age|2007|8|29|1914|12|25|mf=y death place = Auckland, NZL occupation =… …   Wikipedia

  • James Dole — James Drummond Dole Circa 1927 Born September 27, 1877(1877 09 27) Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts Died May 20, 1958 …   Wikipedia

  • James Buchanan Duke — (December 23, 1856 ndash; October 10, 1925) was a U.S. tobacco and electric power industrialist best known for his involvement with Duke University. Personal lifeJames Buchanan Duke, known by the nickname Buck , was born near Durham, North… …   Wikipedia

  • John Fletcher Hanson — (born November 25, 1840 in Monroe County, Georgia) was a self made industrialist who lived in Georgia and helped establish the Georgia School of Technology (later known as the Georgia Institute of Technology). The son of a farmer preacher, Hanson …   Wikipedia

  • Henry Family of New Zealand — The Henry family originated in Scotland and migrated to New Zealand in the 1870s, where they played a major role in forestry, industry, law and philanthropy.They had originally worked as foresters and timbermillers in their homeland and… …   Wikipedia

  • New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers — Format Documentary Narrated by Alison Mau Country of origin New Zealand No. of seasons 1 …   Wikipedia

  • 1974 in New Zealand — Christchurch played host to the 10th Commonwealth Games, which earned the nickname The friendly games .Prime Minister Norman Kirk died in office, and was replaced by former finance minister Bill Rowling.Population* Estimated Population as of 31… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Conservative Party (UK) MPs — This is a list of Conservative Party MPs. It includes all Members of Parliament elected to the British House of Commons representing the Conservative Party from 1834 onwards. Members of the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly or the European… …   Wikipedia

  • Paul C. Whitin — Infobox Person name = Paul C. Whitin image size = caption = 1826 Brick Mill, Whitinsville, built by Paul C. Whitin birth name = birth date = 1767 birth place = Uxbridge, Massachusetts death date = 1831 death place = death cause = resting place =… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”