Sir James Ramsden (25 February 1822 – 19 October 1896) was a British mechanical engineer, industrialist, and civic leader, who played a dominant role in the development of the new town of Barrow-in-Furness, in the historic county of Lancashire.He served five successive terms as mayor on its first achieving municipal borough status, from 1867 onwards.[1][2] James Ramsden was most probably born in Bolton, Lancashire (although the census records are inconsistent on this point).He served an apprenticeship with the Liverpool firm of Bury, Curtis, and Kennedy before becoming locomotive superintendent for the new Furness Railway Company in January 1846.Ramsden's home was Abbots Wood, a large new mansion on the outskirts of the town, rented from the railway company.
The statue of Sir James Ramsden in
Ramsden Square
, Barrow-in-Furness