James Losh, fourth son of a gentleman’s family from Wreay near Carlisle, was a Unitarian barrister and a leading social reformer in Newcastle. He also played a major part at national level in the movement for the abolition of slavery in the colonies. He was distinguished in the last year of his life by becoming the first 'dissident' Recorder of Newcastle upon Tyne. By intellect and temperament a natural sympathiser with the founding spirits of The Literary & Philosophical Society, he was elected its Vice President in 1799 and held the office until his death. Over 31 years Losh recorded daily meteorological observations in his Jesmond garden. Exquisitely hand-written copies of these, bound in seven folio volumes, are held by the Society.