Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cleland, James
CLELAND, JAMES (1770–1840), statistician, was a native of Glasgow, and began life as a cabinet-maker, but having migrated to London, obtained in 1814 the post of superintendent of public works. In 1819 he was employed by the municipal authorities of Glasgow in taking a census of that town, the first ever taken in the United Kingdom. He was similarly employed in 1821 and 1831. He published : 1. 'Annals of Glasgow,' Glasgow, 1816, 8vo. 2. 'Rise and Progress of the City of Glasgow,' Glasgow, 1820, 8vo. 3. 'Enumeration of the Inhabitants of Glasgow,' Glasgow, 1832, fol. 4. 'Historical Account of Bills of Mortality of the Probability of Human Life in Glasgow and other large towns,' Glasgow, 1836, 8vo. 5. 'Description of the Banquet in honour of the Right Honourable Sir R. Peel, Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow, 13 Jan. 1837,' Glasgow, 1837, 4to. 6. 'Description of the City of Glasgow,' Glasgow, 1843, 8vo.
[Irving's Dict. of Eminent Scotsmen; Martin's Contributions to English Literature by the Civil Servants of the Crown; Brit. Mus. Cat.]