James Irvine Glasgow

Biography
James Irvin Glasgow was born in Ireland about 1828. He was a son of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea, County Londonderry, and probably Daniel's wife or partner Margaret Irwin.

A death notice described James as the third son of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea. Len Swindley, "Glasgow Genealogy Notes, Counties Tyrone & Londonderry, Northern Ireland 1840–69" (https://www.cotyroneireland.com/surnames/glasgow.html), transcription of a notice published in the Londonderry Sentinel, 18 February 1853, reporting the death at Brooklyn on 21 January 1853 of James Glasgow, artist, in the twenty-fifth year of his age, third son of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea (accessed 16 July 2026). The original newspaper image has not yet been examined. 

His exact birth date and place have not been identified. The wording in the twenty-fifth year of his age indicates that he was about twenty-four when he died, supporting a birth in about 1828.
Parentage
Daniel Glasgow is James's certain father because he was explicitly named in the death notice. 

Margaret Irwin is attached as James's uncertain mother. She and Daniel were the documented parents of Robert Glasgow, born at Kilrea on 1 September 1827. Richard John Torrens, "Kilrea First Presbyterian Church Records: Baptisms in 1827" (https://genealogy.torrens.org/BannValley/church/KilreaP1/Baptisms/1827.html), entry 146, transcribed by Barbara Braswell: Robert, son of Daniel Glasgow and Margaret Irwin of Kilrea, born 1 September and baptised 30 September 1827 (accessed 16 July 2026). 

James was born about 1828, Daniel remained associated with Kilrea, and no other wife or mother has been identified. Margaret's relationship is therefore plausible but should remain marked uncertain.

James had at least two older brothers because he was described as Daniel's third son. Robert was one of them. The other has not been identified.

A younger brother, Daniel T. Glasgow, born about 1835, was also an Irish-born artist working in New York. Joy Peterson Heyrman, "Signature Drawings": Social Networks and Collecting Practices in Antebellum Albums (https://drum.lib.umd.edu/items/911e8779-ca3c-4af9-841d-dec24f1a7e1b), PhD dissertation, University of Maryland, 2008, pp. 151–152 and list of illustrations, p. xviii. The study identifies the Irish-born brothers James I. Glasgow, 1828–1853, and Daniel T. Glasgow, 1835–1858 (accessed 16 July 2026). 
Artistic career
James emigrated to the United States before 1853 and worked in New York as an artist and lithographer.

He and his brother Daniel T. Glasgow were employed by the lithographic firm William Endicott & Company. James was also a member of the New York Society for the Promotion of Painting in Water Colors. 

Drawings attributed to James were included in an album assembled by the Brooklyn artist John Mackie Falconer. The works identified in the dissertation include:

* Fishing, a watercolour;
* Battle Windmill near Prescott, a pencil drawing. 

The Falconer Album is held by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Death
James died at Brooklyn, New York, on 21 January 1853. The reported cause was dropsy, a historical term for fluid retention or swelling rather than a precise diagnosis. 

He was described as an artist and as being in the twenty-fifth year of his age. 

No confirmed burial, gravestone, probate record, spouse or children have been identified.
Research Notes
Margaret Irwin should be attached as James's mother with the relationship marked uncertain.

James should not be confused with unrelated men of the same name. The relevant identifying details are:

* born in Ireland about 1828;
* son of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea;
* artist and lithographer;
* brother of Daniel T. Glasgow;
* employed by William Endicott & Company;
* died at Brooklyn on 21 January 1853.

The original Londonderry Sentinel notice, Brooklyn death records and the original Falconer Album catalogue remain the most useful records to obtain.
Sources

== Biography ==

{{Ireland Native}}
{{Occupation|text=was an artist and lithographer}}

'''James Irvin Glasgow''' was born in Ireland about 1828. He was a son of '''Daniel Glasgow''' of Kilrea, County Londonderry, and probably Daniel's wife or partner '''Margaret Irwin'''.

A death notice described James as the '''third son''' of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea.<ref name="DeathNotice">[https://www.cotyroneireland.com/surnames/glasgow.html Len Swindley, "Glasgow Genealogy Notes, Counties Tyrone & Londonderry, Northern Ireland 1840–69"], transcription of a notice published in the ''Londonderry Sentinel'', 18 February 1853, reporting the death at Brooklyn on 21 January 1853 of James Glasgow, artist, in the twenty-fifth year of his age, third son of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea (accessed 16 July 2026). The original newspaper image has not yet been examined.</ref>

His exact birth date and place have not been identified. The wording ''in the twenty-fifth year of his age'' indicates that he was about twenty-four when he died, supporting a birth in about 1828.

=== Parentage ===

Daniel Glasgow is James's certain father because he was explicitly named in the death notice.<ref name="DeathNotice" />

Margaret Irwin is attached as James's uncertain mother. She and Daniel were the documented parents of Robert Glasgow, born at Kilrea on 1 September 1827.<ref name="RobertBaptism">[https://genealogy.torrens.org/BannValley/church/KilreaP1/Baptisms/1827.html Richard John Torrens, "Kilrea First Presbyterian Church Records: Baptisms in 1827"], entry 146, transcribed by Barbara Braswell: Robert, son of Daniel Glasgow and Margaret Irwin of Kilrea, born 1 September and baptised 30 September 1827 (accessed 16 July 2026).</ref>

James was born about 1828, Daniel remained associated with Kilrea, and no other wife or mother has been identified. Margaret's relationship is therefore plausible but should remain marked uncertain.

James had at least two older brothers because he was described as Daniel's third son. Robert was one of them. The other has not been identified.

A younger brother, '''Daniel T. Glasgow''', born about 1835, was also an Irish-born artist working in New York.<ref name="Heyrman">[https://drum.lib.umd.edu/items/911e8779-ca3c-4af9-841d-dec24f1a7e1b Joy Peterson Heyrman, ''"Signature Drawings": Social Networks and Collecting Practices in Antebellum Albums''], PhD dissertation, University of Maryland, 2008, pp. 151–152 and list of illustrations, p. xviii. The study identifies the Irish-born brothers James I. Glasgow, 1828–1853, and Daniel T. Glasgow, 1835–1858 (accessed 16 July 2026).</ref>

=== Artistic career ===

James emigrated to the United States before 1853 and worked in New York as an artist and lithographer.

He and his brother Daniel T. Glasgow were employed by the lithographic firm '''William Endicott & Company'''. James was also a member of the '''New York Society for the Promotion of Painting in Water Colors'''.<ref name="Heyrman" />

Drawings attributed to James were included in an album assembled by the Brooklyn artist John Mackie Falconer. The works identified in the dissertation include:

* ''Fishing'', a watercolour;
* ''Battle Windmill near Prescott'', a pencil drawing.<ref name="Heyrman" />

The Falconer Album is held by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

=== Death ===

James died at Brooklyn, New York, on '''21 January 1853'''. The reported cause was ''dropsy'', a historical term for fluid retention or swelling rather than a precise diagnosis.<ref name="DeathNotice" />

He was described as an artist and as being in the twenty-fifth year of his age.<ref name="DeathNotice" />

No confirmed burial, gravestone, probate record, spouse or children have been identified.

== Research Notes ==

Margaret Irwin should be attached as James's mother with the relationship marked '''uncertain'''.

James should not be confused with unrelated men of the same name. The relevant identifying details are:

* born in Ireland about 1828;
* son of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea;
* artist and lithographer;
* brother of Daniel T. Glasgow;
* employed by William Endicott & Company;
* died at Brooklyn on 21 January 1853.

The original ''Londonderry Sentinel'' notice, Brooklyn death records and the original Falconer Album catalogue remain the most useful records to obtain.

== Sources ==

<references />