Ireland, James (1724–1814)

Ireland began his career in Bristol as a shopman, prospered as a sugar merchant, and eventually owned an estate in Brislington. He was an evangelical sympathizer. In October 1749 he married Constant Norman, daughter of John and Mary (Oxford) Norman—owners of the brickyard on St. Philip's Plain in Bristol, where JW preached his first sermon in the open air on Apr. 2, 1739. Ireland was particularly close to John Fletcher, who preached the funeral sermon for Ireland's wife Constant in 1769.