MECHI

John Joseph (3 son of Giacomo Mechi). b. London 22 May 1802; clerk in a house in Walbrook in the Newfoundland trade 1818–28; a cutler at 130 Leaden hall st. 1828–30, at 4 Leaden hall st. 1830–69, partner with Charles Bazan 1859–69; cutler at 112 Regent st. 1869 to death; made a fortune by his magic razor strop 1830–40; purchased for £3400 a farm of about 130 acres at Tiptree Heath, E ex 1841, where he introduced deep drainage and use of steam power, so that it became a model farm; sheriff of London 1856, alderman for Lime st. ward 1858 to Aug. 1866; failed in busine 14 Dec. 1880; author of Letters on agricultural improvements 1844; On the principles which ensure succe in trade 1853, another ed. 1856; How to farm profitably 1859, 4 ed. 1864; On the sewerage of towns as it affects British agriculture 1860; Mr. Mechi’s Farm balance sheets, also his lectures and papers on farming 1867 and 12 other books. d. Tiptree hall, E ex 26 Dec. 1880. Biograph , i 250–4 (1879); I.L.N. xxx 337 (1857) portrait , xxx i 317 (1857), lxxviii 37 (1881) portrait ; Pictorial World 29 Jany. 1881 pp. 355, 361, portrait .