James Small

Who was James Small?

James Small was a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Perth, Scotland and the Laird of Dirnanean.

James Small was born on May 28, 1835 in Perthshire, Scotland, the son of Patrick Small and Amelia Rattray of Kirkhillock and Brewlands. Upon his father's death in 1859, Dirnanean passed to James, the ninth time the estate had passed from father to son since the 1588 charter by John, the 5th Stewart Earl of Atholl had granted the lands of Dirnanean to the Small family.

On January 15, 1867, at Chalton Church, Chalton, Hampshire, England, James married Janet Clarke-Jervoise, the second daughter of Sir Jervoise Clarke-Jervoise, 2nd Baronet. The couple had no children to inherit Dirnanean, so James' nephew, James Small Pender was designated his heir.

James served as the Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Perth, Scotland. Small served as the head of Kirkmichael’s school board, chieftain of the Strathardle Highland Gathering, president of the local horticultural society and chaired a host of other committees. He was also a member of the Atholl Highlanders.