Leeds Mercury/1888/Obituary: Mr. James H. Stoddart

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Obituary

As briefly stated in this journal yesterday, Mr. James H. Stoddart, LL.D., a well-known Scotch journalist, died at his residence, Lennoxtown, near Glasgow, on Wednesday. Of humble parents, the decease gentleman was born in the year 1832, in the village of Sanquhar in Dumfriesshire. On leaving home to commence work he followed a variety of occupations in thie cites of Edinburgh nd Glasgow. In 1852 he received an appointment on the sub-editorial staff of the Glasgow Herald. Eight years later. on the death of Mr. Pagan, who was at that time editor of or the Herald, he became assistant editor; and on the retirement, in 1879, of Mr. W. Jack from the editorship, Mr. Stoddart undertook the full duties of the post, which he continued to discharge with ability until November last. Some three or four years ago the University of Glasgow gracefully acknowledged Mr. Stoddart's journalistic and literary work be inferring upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. He had written two or three poems of some pretension, and he had associated himself with literary work in that sphere. It was, however, chiefly as a journalist that Mr, Stoddard was known to the public, and in that sphere he won warm approval from all those with whom he came into contact. In 1882 his portrait was presented to him, and on retiring from the editorship of the Herald a few months ago he was entertained at dinner by the leading men of Glasgow, and received a presentation of plate. The Glasgow Herald yesterday says—Dr. Stoddart was a born journalist. His reading was extensive and various; his knowledge was exact, and always at command. His clearness of perception, whatever the subject in hand, was as rapid as it was helpful; and his judgment was usually right. Knowing the city and its public men well, he wrote of local questions with fulness and exactitude; and his criticism, although frank, were always kindly. His sense of humour was dexterously exerted without giving offence—nay, rather with such good-natured breadth and geniality that even those who felt the lash were unwilling to resent it. Although he followed the current of politics with keen eye, and wrote a great deal in imperial subjects, it can hardly be said that Mr. Stoddart took with complete kindliness to the controversies of Parliament, Yet here also his judicial calm was always preserved; and however irritating the theme , he was never betrayed into temper or petulance. But the Herald and its leading columns under his régime furnish the best evidence of the mind and character of the man whose death we deplore. The deceased gentleman leaves a family of four sons and three daughters.