James Muirhead and his family lived at Malta House throughout the last quarter of the century, from about 1874 until after 1901. He was a fishmonger and poulterer, in a business started by his father Charles Muirhead (1800-1865). The shop was at 79 Queen Street, but there was another part of the business which operated from the fishmarket at Newhaven. The company, Charles Muirhead, were fishmongers and poulterers to the Queen and the Prince of Wales, and by the turn of the century were also auctioneers and fishcurers.
James Muirhead was born in Edinburgh on 21 October 1839, son of Charles Muirhead and Elizabeth Brown (1801-1892). He married Mary Alexander (born on 14 November 1844 at Rousay, Orkney, daughter of Magnus Alexander and Margaret Inksetter), who was listed at Malta House in the censuses of 1881, 1891 and 1901. They had six children, all living at Malta House in 1881: James A Muirhead (born about 1866), Mary Alexander Muirhead (b. 2 June 1869), Elizabeth Muirhead (b. 15 December 1870), Margaret Muirhead (b. 18 September 1872), Charles Muirhead (b. 9 November 1874), and William George Muirhead (born about 1875).