James Frederick Hutton came from a family of merchants, and he chose to continue in the family trade. He made several trips across the British territories in Africa, where he engaged in the cotton trade. His expertise in Africa facilitated negotiations and collaborations with King Leopold II of Belgium, through which he gained substantial profits from the exploitation of the region. In 1887, Hutton was appointed as the Belgian consul in Manchester, where he acquired Denison House (Manchester) and housed his collection.