Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cleghorn, James
CLEGHORN, JAMES (1778–1836), Scottish actuary, was a native of Dunse, where he was born in 1778. For some time he followed the vocation of a farmer, but in 1811 he removed to Edinburgh, where he edited the 'Farmers' Journal.' In 1817, along with Thomas Pringle, he became editor of the 'Edinburgh Monthly Magazine,' of which only six numbers were issued, and regarding which the editors published 'Notice ot the Transactions between the Publisher and Editors of the "Edinburgh Monthly Magazine."' Subsequently he became connected with the 'Scots Magazine.' He was the author of a pamphlet on the 'Depressed State of Agriculture, 1822, and to the seventh edition of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica' contributed the article on 'Agriculture,' which was also published separately. Cleghorn was the projector and founder of the Scottish Provident Assurance Company, of which he was manager. He was also actuary of the Edinburgh National Security Savings Banks. He enjoyed a high reputation for his skill as an actuary and accountant, which was shown in his 'Widows' Scheme for the Faculty of Advocates,' his 'Report on the first Investigation of the Widows' Fund' of that body, and his 'Report on the Widows' Fund of the Writers to ner Majesty's Signet.' He died unmarried on 27 May 1838.
[Anderson's Scottish Nation; Modern Athenians; Catalogue of the Library of the Faculty of Advocates, Edinburgh.]