#916, James Johnstone KESWICK

We show below his obituary from The China Mail of December 29th 1914.

DEATH OF AN OLD CHINA HAND

The late Mr J J Keswick whose death is announced was an old China hand. He came out to the Far East to the firm of Jardine, Matheson & Co in 1870 and remained at one or other of the firm's branches until 1901, since when he has resided permanently at home. For a period he was manager of the head office here.

Mr Keswick was a younger brother of the late William Keswick, MP, and uncle to Mr Henry Keswick, who succeeded his father in the representation of the Epsom Division of Surrey on his return in 1912, and is now serving with the Expeditionary Force.

A Hongkong gentleman who knew the late Mr Keswick intimately, both here and in Shanghai, gave a China Mail representative some interesting reminiscences of his connection with the Far East. He was first in the Shanghai Office of Jardine Matheson & Company as number two, and it was soon after his arrival in the Settlement that he became engaged to the eldest daughter of Sir Harry Parkes. Shortly after his marriage Mr Keswick was transferred to Hongkong. In Shanghai Mr Keswick was a keen Volunteer, and under his fostering care the Light Horse, of which he was captain reached a high standard of efficiency though it membership at this time was not very large. He was a good rider and shot.

As Taipan (Managing Director) of the Hongkong office of Jardine Matheson & Company Mr Keswick sat on the Legislative and Executive Councils, was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, served on the boards of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank and numerous local companies. Mr and Mrs Keswick entertained a great deal and made a great many friends during their residence in the Colony. They returned Home in the summer of 1892 and were away from the Colony for a year or two, but when Mr J Bell Irving retired from China Mr Keswick again assumed control in Hongkong, retiring definitely in 1901.

It is interesting to recall that another of Messrs Jardine Matheson and Company's Hongkong managers, Mr C.E.Dickson, and Mr Keswick were related by marriage, the former having married Sir Harry Parkes' youngest daughter.

A handwritten footnote say that this account is 'not very accurate regarding date etc.'

James was nicknamed "James the bloody polite", a tribute to his personality.  Like his brother he was a member of the Legislative Council and chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce in five spells between 1890 and 1900.  Hefounded Hong Kong Land with Sir Paul Chater.