James Buchanan, 1st Baron Woolavington (1849-1935)
James Buchanan was born in Brockville, Ontario, Canada, in 1849. He was the third and youngest son of Alexander Buchanan and his wife Catherine (née McLean), Scottish immigrants, but his parents returned to the United Kingdom shortly after he was born and he was brought up in Larne, Northern Ireland, where his father worked as a quarry manager.
He began his career in 1879 as agent for a whisky firm. Charm, diligence, and patience and the creation of a blend, that in his own words, was ‘sufficiently light and old to please the palate’ brought him one of the largest fortunes in Britain.
James Buchanan put his blend in a black bottle with a white label leading to what we know today as ‘Black and White Whisky’.
He gave generously to Edinburgh University, Middlesex Hospital and he restored St.George’s Chapel Windsor. However is was his interest in horses and art for which he is best remember.
In 1903 he purchased Lavington Park in Sussex and formed a racing stud which probably stimulated him to become one of the greatest collectors of English sporting art of all time.
James Buchanan was created a baronet, of Lavington in the County of Sussex, in the 1920 New Year Honours, for “public and local services.” He was raised to the peerage in the 1922 New Year Honours as Baron Woolavington, of Lavington, in the County of Sussex, for being a “generous supporter of many public and charitable objects”.
Lord Woolavington died in 1935 and left his art collection to his daughter Catherine and her husband, Major ( later Sir) Reginald Macdonald-Buchanan. Together they purchased Cottesbrooke Hall built about 1710, which provided a perfect setting for the family and their growing collection.
Lord Woolavington laid the foundations upon which they have spectacularly built. Later generations have continued to build on the art collection and it continues to be maintained by the new generation of Alastair and Sheran Macdonald-Buchanan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Buchanan,_1st_Baron_Woolavington