James Anderson (farm manager)

James Anderson was a Scottish born farm manager who served between 1796 and 1802 as steward of George Washington's Mount Vernon estate.

Anderson was responsible for Mount Vernon's shift to whisky distilling in 1798.^[1] Having a trusted relationship with George Washington, Anderson carried out Washington's long term plans for Mount Vernon after his death in 1799 until the death of Martha Washington in 1802.^[2]

Anderson was born and raised near the town of Inverkeithing in Fife, Scotland. He married Helen Gordon of Inverkeithing, and the couple had seven children.^[2]

In the 1790's, Anderson immigrated to the United States with his wife and seven children.^[1][2]

Washington wrote to James Anderson in 1796 on the qualities he wanted from a farm manager of Mount Vernon, which included "Besides being sober, & a man of integrity, he must possess a great deal of activity and firmness, to make the under Overseers do their duty strictly."^[3]

Anderson encouraged Washington to establish a whisky distillery in 1798; operational by the spring of that year, the distillery produced 11,000 gallons of whisky the following year at a value of over $7,500.^[2] Washington was initially skeptical of the plan.^[4]

Four days prior to his death, on 10th December 1799 George Washington wrote to James Anderson about his long term plans for Mount Vernon.^[5]

Anderson continued to manage Mount Vernon until 1802, when Martha Washington died.^[2]