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William Jacks

1841 - 1907

 


Portrait of William Jacks, taken from 'Robert Burns in other Tongues', Library Research Annexe P23-b.1

A successful businessman in the iron industry and notable public figure, William Jacks was also an author with a strong interest in modern European languages and historical figures. He received an honorary LLD from the University of Glasgow in 1899 for his academic contributions and, after his death, he left an educational endowment to the University in order to found the William Jacks Chair in German Language and Literature. His books can still be found in the University Library, and many are kept in the Library Research Annexe.

 

William Jacks, one of six children, was born to Richard Jacks, a farmer and land steward, and his wife, Mary Lamb, on 18th March 1841 in Northumberland. At 14 he became an apprentice at a Hartlepool shipyard and, due to his hard work and effort, quickly gained promotion. Before moving to Glasgow in 1869, Jacks worked for an engine works in Sunderland and used the evenings to learn European languages, which also helped to advance his career.


Sketch: Act I, Scene I, from William Jacks'
translation of Lessing's 'Nathan the Wise'
Level 9 German LL350.N2


Sketch: Act II, Scene I, from William Jacks
 translation of Lessing's  'Nathan the Wise'
Level 9 German LL350.N2

  

 



Once Jacks moved to Glasgow he began to take more prominent roles in the iron and steel industry and public affairs. As well as managing and setting up iron and steel companies, Jacks served briefly as a Liberal MP for Leith Burghs (1885-6). He also became involved in improving commercial education, after his appointment as arbiter through the London Chamber of Commerce arbitration scheme.

 

 

Throughout his life Jacks maintained his enthusiasm for languages and undertook the translation of various works of literature. With a particular interest in German literature, Jacks translated Lessing's Nathan the Wise in his spare time and during some quiet periods in Parliament.  In the preface to this work, Jacks states his reasons for this translation: "Some years ago, when preparing some lectures on German Literature, I was unable to find what I considered a correct reproduction of many passages in this work, and being much impressed by the lofty thoughts of Lessing's powerful mind, I formed the intention of translating the book whenever I had sufficient leisure." It was published in 1894, and also contains an introduction by Jacks's close friend Dean F. W. Farrar, who contributed similarly to some of Jacks's other books.

 

 

 

Having settled in Glasgow, in 1896 Jacks put together a collection of miscellaneous translations of Robert Burns' work, entitled Robert Burns in other Tongues, for the centenary of Robert Burns's death. With this collection, Jacks aimed to demonstrate the breadth of Burns' influence on those in the wider world as well as produce an aid to students learning other languages. This book was generally well thought of and a scrap book, that contains reviews of Robert Burns in other Tongues, can be found in Glasgow University Library's Special Collections Department. This book provides an impression of how Jacks' work was perceived at the time it was published.


Portrait of Robert Burns, taken from 'Robert Burns in other Tongues', Library Research Annexe P23-b.1


Front board of 'Newspaper Criticisms on William Jacks'
"Burns in other Tongues"', Special Collections MS Gen 922


Portrait of Prince Bismarck, aged 19, taken from 'The Life of Prince Bismark', Library Research Annexe U14-a.23

 Jacks' interest in Germany extended beyond literature to some notable German historical figures; he published the biographies The Life of Prince Bismarck (1901) and The Life of William II, German Emperor (1904). He was evidently spurred on to write these biographies out of sheer admiration for the personalities involved: "...I followed his (Bismarck's) career with admiration, and having gathered a large amount of material relating to it, I finally decided to arrange it in the form of a narrative of his life."

 

Demonstrating his respect for engineering and invention, Jacks wrote a biography of James Watt, which was published in 1901. Watt was definitely a figure that Jacks very much identified himself with, possessing similar forward-thinking qualities and humility. In this biography, Jacks also showed his pride in residing in Glasgow and the industrial and intellectual progress taking place in the city.


Sketch: 'Original construction of Boulton & Watt's Steam Engine', taken from 'James Watt', Library Research Annexe U12-z.18


Photograph of Glasgow University, on High Street (1460-1870), taken from
'James Watt', Library Research Annexe U12-z.18

Jacks came close to writing an autobiography in Singles From Life's Gathering, published 1902. In this book, Jacks wrote about snippets from his experience, taken from lectures, to inspire those who came from similar humble origins to succeed in business and other pursuits: "I write for those who success depends upon their own efforts, and so are dependent upon self-reliance, energy, and thrift." 

William Jacks died on 9th August 1907, in his country house, in Perthshire.  Singles From Life's Gathering certainly gives the reader a strong impression of Jacks's life and character. He firmly believed in hard work, in creating his own opportunities and in maintaining a wide array of interests in order to achieve success himself and in motivating others to learn and succeed in their own ambitions.


Portrait of William Jacks, taken from 'Singles From Life's Gathering', Library Research Annexe P11/12-i.23
Works of William Jacks available in Glasgow University Library:

Jacks, William. (translator). (1894). Nathan the Wise (by Lessing) Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons. Level 9 German LL350.N2 1894-J

Jacks, William. (1903). Singles from Life's Gathering Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons. Library Research Annexe P11/12-i.23

Jacks, William. (1896). Robert Burns in other Tongues Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons. Library Research Annexe P23-b.1

Jacks, William. (1901). James Watt Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons. Library Research Annexe U12-z.18

Jacks, William. (1899). The Life of Prince Bismarck Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons. Library Research Annexe U14-a.23

Jacks, William. (1904). Life of William II, German Emperor Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons. Library Research Annexe U14-x.18

Newspaper Criticisms on William Jacks' 'Burns in other Tongues' Special Collections MS Gen 922

The following were useful in compiling this article:

(2004). Dictionary of National Biography Oxford : Oxford University Press. Electronic Resource