John Glassford
Encyclopedia
John Glassford of Dougalston and Whitehill (1715 – 27 August 1783) was a Scottish
Tobacco Lord
, considered by his contemporaries to be the greatest of the era. He owned tobacco plantation
s in Virginia
and Maryland
.
, the third son of James Glassford, a merchant and burgess in Paisley. Glassford went on to marry first a merchant's daughter, then a baronet's, then an earl's. His immense wealth allowed for the construction or purchase of a number of major properties in and around Glasgow; Whitehill, Shawfield and Dougalston, from which he took his title, are the most notable. He appeared to pride himself on home improvements, especially on the Dougalston estate, where he enacted an extensive programme of planting and building, and even the creation of an artificial lake, Dougalston Loch. The Glassford Family Portrait, commissioned from artist Archibald McLauchlan in 1766 – and currently exhibited in Glasgow's People's Palace
– shows Glassford with members of his family in their city home the Shawfield Mansion. This house stood on what is now Glassford Street in Glasgow, named in his honour.
of the mid eighteenth century. Glassford entered the tobacco trade in 1750 and soon made a success of his venture, with a fleet of vessels and a large number of tobacco stores across New England
. Celebrated in his lifetime, Glassford was the most extensive ship owner of his generation in Scotland, and one of the four merchants who laid the foundation of the commercial greatness of Glasgow through the tobacco trade. Tobias Smollet wrote of a meeting with Glassford in 1771:
In business Glassford was not confined to traffic from the colonies. He had begun his career in the 1740s with various manufacturing interests and with his tobacco wealth he continued this patronage. Almost all of the principle manufacturing establishments in Glasgow had his support, and he was a leading partner in the Glasgow Arms and Thistle Banks. However, it was the tobacco trade that was to be his financial downfall. The American War of Independence
(1775-83) ruined Glasgow's part in the trade, and while other tobacco lords were shrewd enough to sell their shares in the business before the crash, Glassford was not among them. When he died, at his home, Shawfield Mansion, on 27 August 1783, he had debts of over £93,000. Accounts of Glassford written in the nineteenth century all have in common the fact that he appeared to be a good man. Though very much drawn to the drinking and gambling culture that characterised much of Glasgow's merchant community, he was "of very gentle, pleasing manners," "dispensed princely hospitality" , and possessed "much energy of character."
As one of Glasgow's leading 'tobacco lords', modern recognition of Glassford has been surprisingly slight considering his contribution to the mercantile history of Glasgow. This is a fact that was recognised even in 1881 by George Stewart who in his collection Glasgow's Old Commercial Aristocracy noted that Glassford was "at one time the very prince of Glasgow merchants, and now almost forgotten". Iain Russell has commented that Glassford is commemorated by little more than the name of Glassford Street in central Glasgow, but his lifetime achievements – not only in the line of tobacco, but also in agricultural and industrial improvements across the Central Belt
– deserve wider appreciation.
James, advocate, Sheriff-Depute of Dumbartonshire, who died 28 July 1845;
Isabella; and
Euphemia.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Tobacco Lord
Tobacco Lords
The Tobacco Lords were Glasgow merchants who, in the 18th Century made enormous fortunes by trading in tobacco from Great Britain's American Colonies....
, considered by his contemporaries to be the greatest of the era. He owned tobacco plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
s in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Background and family
Glassford was born in PaisleyPaisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, the third son of James Glassford, a merchant and burgess in Paisley. Glassford went on to marry first a merchant's daughter, then a baronet's, then an earl's. His immense wealth allowed for the construction or purchase of a number of major properties in and around Glasgow; Whitehill, Shawfield and Dougalston, from which he took his title, are the most notable. He appeared to pride himself on home improvements, especially on the Dougalston estate, where he enacted an extensive programme of planting and building, and even the creation of an artificial lake, Dougalston Loch. The Glassford Family Portrait, commissioned from artist Archibald McLauchlan in 1766 – and currently exhibited in Glasgow's People's Palace
People's Palace
The People's Palace and Winter Gardens in Glasgow, Scotland is a museum and glasshouse situated in Glasgow Green, and was opened on 22 January, 1898 by the Earl of Rosebery....
– shows Glassford with members of his family in their city home the Shawfield Mansion. This house stood on what is now Glassford Street in Glasgow, named in his honour.
Tobacco trade
From 1710 Glasgow became the focus of an economic boom which lasted nearly fifty years. This was the age of the Tobacco Lords, the nouveau richeNouveau riche
The nouveau riche , or new money, comprise those who have acquired considerable wealth within their own generation...
of the mid eighteenth century. Glassford entered the tobacco trade in 1750 and soon made a success of his venture, with a fleet of vessels and a large number of tobacco stores across New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. Celebrated in his lifetime, Glassford was the most extensive ship owner of his generation in Scotland, and one of the four merchants who laid the foundation of the commercial greatness of Glasgow through the tobacco trade. Tobias Smollet wrote of a meeting with Glassford in 1771:
In business Glassford was not confined to traffic from the colonies. He had begun his career in the 1740s with various manufacturing interests and with his tobacco wealth he continued this patronage. Almost all of the principle manufacturing establishments in Glasgow had his support, and he was a leading partner in the Glasgow Arms and Thistle Banks. However, it was the tobacco trade that was to be his financial downfall. The American War of Independence
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
(1775-83) ruined Glasgow's part in the trade, and while other tobacco lords were shrewd enough to sell their shares in the business before the crash, Glassford was not among them. When he died, at his home, Shawfield Mansion, on 27 August 1783, he had debts of over £93,000. Accounts of Glassford written in the nineteenth century all have in common the fact that he appeared to be a good man. Though very much drawn to the drinking and gambling culture that characterised much of Glasgow's merchant community, he was "of very gentle, pleasing manners," "dispensed princely hospitality" , and possessed "much energy of character."
As one of Glasgow's leading 'tobacco lords', modern recognition of Glassford has been surprisingly slight considering his contribution to the mercantile history of Glasgow. This is a fact that was recognised even in 1881 by George Stewart who in his collection Glasgow's Old Commercial Aristocracy noted that Glassford was "at one time the very prince of Glasgow merchants, and now almost forgotten". Iain Russell has commented that Glassford is commemorated by little more than the name of Glassford Street in central Glasgow, but his lifetime achievements – not only in the line of tobacco, but also in agricultural and industrial improvements across the Central Belt
Central Belt
The Central Belt of Scotland is a common term used to describe the area of highest population density within Scotland. Despite the name, it is not geographically central but is nevertheless situated at the 'waist' of Scotland on a conventional map and the term 'central' is used in many local...
– deserve wider appreciation.
Family
Glassford married, as his third wife, Margaret Mackenzie (d. 29 March 1773), sixth daughter of the third Earl of Cromartie. From this marriage he had:James, advocate, Sheriff-Depute of Dumbartonshire, who died 28 July 1845;
Isabella; and
Euphemia.