James Meek was born in 1790 in Brompton, Northallerton and came to York in 1803 to serve an apprenticeship with Joseph Agar, currier.
After he working in various cities he returned to York on his marriage, setting up his own business in Goodramgate.
Partner in York Flint Glass Co, Chairman York City and County Bank.
c1825 The largest employer in York with a glass-works burning more than a thousand tons of coal a year.
One of the founding directors of the York and North Midland Railway but he resigned when it agreed to run trains on Sundays.
He was the Lord Mayor of York in 1836/7, 1848/9, 1850/1
Sheriff of York 1827, Alderman 1835 until his death.
He died in 1862 aged 72.
His son, Sir James Meek, was also Lord Mayor on three occasions.