BAILLIE, James Evan (?1781-1863), of the Albany, Westminster.

Baillie became a partner in the Bristol Old Bank in 1812 after the death of his eldest brother Peter and was associated with and eventually principal of the family West Indian trading company, Evan Baillie, Sons & Co. By 1812, he was also interested in coming into Parliament, from which his father was about to retire. It was thought possible that he or his brother Hugh might come forward for Inverness Burghs on the strength of his family connexion, but he preferred not to wait for a dissolution.SRO GD23/6/745, C. to J. Grant, 26 Sept., 7 Oct. 1811. In July 1812 he began to treat for an opening at Camelford with the Duke of Bedford’s agent James Abercromby.Add. 51574, Abercromby to Holland [July], [30 July 1812]. The ensuing dissolution frustrated this plan. He had to wait until June 1813, when he purchased a seat for Tralee which was usually placed at government disposal. It soon became evident that his sympathies lay with opposition. He was president of the Whig Anchor Club at Bristol.

Baillie voted in favour of censure of the Speaker for his anti-Catholic speech, 22 Apr. 1814, and in favour of Catholic relief in 1815, 1816 and 1817. Though he took no part in debate, he voted regularly with opposition for retrenchment, against the property tax, 18 Mar. 1816, and against the suspension of civil liberties in 1817 and 1818. He voted for Burdett’s motion in favour of parliamentary reform, 20 May 1817. He also supported Brougham’s motion critical of the state of trade and manufactures, 13 Mar. 1817, and Tierney’s motion for the resumption of cash payments by the Bank, 1 May 1818. On 3 Feb. 1818, he was admitted to the Whig sanctuary of Brooks’s Club.

He was left without a seat in 1818. Put up without his consent for Bristol in 1820, he became its Member ten years later. He died 14 June 1863, aged 82.Gent. Mag. (1863), ii. 245.