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James Fletcher (industrialist)
Encyclopedia
Sir James Fletcher 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.
, Scotland
, and was educated in Glasgow
. He was the sixth of thirteen children. 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.
In 1908 he established a building business with his brother William John, 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 1946.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
industrialist who founded Fletcher Construction
Fletcher Construction
Fletcher Construction Limited is a leading New Zealand construction company. It is owned by Fletcher Building Limited and has three main divisions:*Building and interiors *South Pacific...
, one of the country's largest firms. His son, Sir James Fletcher
James Muir Cameron Fletcher
Sir James Muir Cameron Fletcher ONZ , often known as Jim or JC Junior, was a New Zealand industrialist known for heading Fletcher Construction, one of the countries' largest firms...
Junior, continued to build the corporation.
Early life
Fletcher was born at KirkintillochKirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch is a town and former burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal, about eight miles northeast of central Glasgow...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and was educated in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. He was the sixth of thirteen children. He migrated to Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
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
Limited liability company
A limited liability company is a flexible form of enterprise that blends elements of partnership and corporate structures. It is a legal form of company that provides limited liability to its owners in the vast majority of United States jurisdictions...
, 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
Chateau Tongariro
Chateau Tongariro is a New Zealand hotel and resort complex.It is located close to Whakapapa skifield on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu, and is close to the volcanic peaks of Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe, within the boundaries of Tongariro National Park, New Zealand's oldest.Now officially...
and Dominion Museum in 1929.
Following the election of the First Labour Government
First Labour Government of New Zealand
The First Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1935 to 1949. It set the tone of New Zealand's economic and welfare policies until the 1980s, establishing a welfare state, a system of Keynesian economic management, and high levels of state intervention...
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
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
(ICI), the Tasman Pulp and Paper Company, and New Zealand Paper Mills. Sir James Senior was knighted in 1946.
See also
- James Muir Cameron FletcherJames Muir Cameron FletcherSir James Muir Cameron Fletcher ONZ , often known as Jim or JC Junior, was a New Zealand industrialist known for heading Fletcher Construction, one of the countries' largest firms...
- Hugh FletcherHugh FletcherHugh Fletcher is a New Zealand businessman and former Chancellor of the University of Auckland.-Early life:Hugh was the second son born to Sir James Fletcher and Vaughan, Lady Fletcher....
- Fletcher ConstructionFletcher ConstructionFletcher Construction Limited is a leading New Zealand construction company. It is owned by Fletcher Building Limited and has three main divisions:*Building and interiors *South Pacific...
- Fletcher ChallengeFletcher ChallengeFletcher Challenge is a now defunct multinational corporation from New Zealand, formed in 1981 by the merger of Fletcher Holdings, Challenge Corporation and Tasman Pulp and Paper...