Sir James Matheson was born at West Shinness, by Lairg. He was one of the founder members of the firm of Jardine. Matheson, and worked in Calcutta Canton and Macao. He bought Achany in 1840, also estates in Lewis (Hebrides), and was MP for Ashburton, Devon, from 1842. The poppy seed head detailing on the memorial alludes to.