abstract:James Dick (1743–1828) was born in Forres, Morayshire to Alexander, a shoemaker and town councillor. Dick became a successful merchant in the West Indies and later in London.
Imagine, then, if the James Carvilles, Dick Morrises and Karl Roves of the world put their visionary, calculating, often deviously cynical genius to work to promote the national interest globally.
At the time McCartney and writing partner John Lennon wrote their songs, they retained only a portion of the rights in the publishing company created by the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, and London music publisher DickJames. (The company was called Northern Songs, a nod to the Beatles' Liverpudlian roots.) The company went public in 1965.