James Finn

For the First World War VC recipient, see James Fynn.
James Finn
Born 1806
Died 1872 (aged 65–66)
Resting place Wimbledon, London
Nationality British
Occupation U.K. Consul in Jerusalem,
writer, philanthropist
Years active 1846 – 1863
Known for Writings about Palestine
Religion Christian
Spouse(s) Elizabeth Anne Finn
Children Alexander 'Guy Fawkes' Finn, 1847
Constance Finn, 1851
Arthur Henry Finn, 1854

James Finn was a British Consul in Jerusalem, in the then Ottoman Empire (1846–1863).[1] He arrived in 1845 with his wife Elizabeth Anne Finn. Finn was a devout Christian, who belonged to the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews, but who did not engage in missionary work during his years in Jerusalem.

Finn was a writer and philanthropist. He was a great believer in productivity, an ideology that was very much in vogue at the time, and in 1853 purchased for £250 Karm al-Khalil (Arabic for "Abraham's Vineyard", lit. "vineyard of the loved one", which in Hebrew became Kerem Avraham) a barren piece of land outside the walls of the Old City. Kerem Avraham was established as a training farm for Jews in agriculture and to become productive citizens. Finn employed Jewish labourers to build the first house there in 1855. Cisterns for water storage were built and a soap factory was established which produced high quality soap sold to tourists.

He helped establish the experimental farm at the village of Artas outside Bethlehem.

Books (partial list)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Webster, Gillian (1 January 1985). "Elizabeth Anne Finn". The Biblical Archaeologist. 48 (3): 181–185. doi:10.2307/3209937. JSTOR 3209937.

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