This house was much esteemed for fine watches and clocks, especially in
India. James McCabe was from a watch and clock making family in Belfast. He
came to London in the later part of the eighteenth century, and was at 11 Bells
Building in Fleet St. In 1778; 34 King St., Cheapside in 1783; 8 King St.,
Cheapside in 1788; 97 Cornhill, Royal Exchange in 1804. He was honorary freeman
of the Clockmakers Company 1781; livery 1786, Warden 1811 when he died, and was
succeeded by his son James who was apprenticed to Reid & Auld and admitted
to the Clockmakers Company in 1822. The business was carried on as McCabe &
Son, 99 Cornhill till 1820; McCabe & Strachan 1825-26; J. McCabe, 97
Cornhill, till 1838, when the Royal Exchange was destroyed by fire; then J.
McCabe, 32 Cornhill. Robert Jeremy McCabe, nephew of James, who succeeded his
uncle at 32 Cornhill, retired in 1883, when he closed the shop, declining all
offers to purchase the business. He died in 1902, aged 67. McCabe's best
watches were engraved "James McCabe", the second grade
"McCabe", and the lowest quality "Beatson". Specialised in
duplex escapement.
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