John Howie (businessman)
Encyclopedia
John Howie was a wealthy Victorian
captain of industry
and investor
, the proprietor of the renowned J & R Howie Hurlford
Fireclay Works. He would have been about 350th on a notional Rich List
of Britain at the time, with a fortune equal to over £200 million today. At his death, he was one of the richest men in Scotland.
), producing a huge range of items from bricks, sanitary ware such as toilets and baths, drainage materials, feeding dishes and troughs, chimneys and garden ornaments. He also owned several large coal mines and pits. Howie's family owned much of the town of Hurlford, including Marchmont Place, Salisbury Place, Collier Row, Office Row, Chapel Cottages, Skerrington Row and Howie's Square. They also owned small mining villages including Hemphill and Corsehill. J & R Howie continued to operate under the National Coal Board
, and still exists legally as a company today, though it is currently dormant and non-trading.
In spite of his vast wealth, Howie did not live extravagantly, living at the family home of Newhouse in Hurlford, a mansion-house nearby the mine, now an extended 22-bedroomed residential care home. Howie was a Calvinist, his family having been involved in the Covenanting movement.
Howie's son, Frederick, bought Templetonburn House, one of Aryshire's finest mansions built at a cost of £20,000, before burning down later in the 20th century, and its estate.
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
captain of industry
Captain of industry
"Captain of industry" was a term originally used in the United Kingdom during the Industrial Revolution describing a business leader whose means of amassing a personal fortune contributes positively to the country in some way....
and investor
Investor
An investor is a party that makes an investment into one or more categories of assets --- equity, debt securities, real estate, currency, commodity, derivatives such as put and call options, etc...
, the proprietor of the renowned J & R Howie Hurlford
Hurlford
Hurlford is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Including Crookedholm, it has a population of 4,968. Hurlford's former names include Whirlford and Hurdleford. The village was named Whirlford as a result of a ford crossing the River Irvine east of Hurlford Cross, near Shawhill...
Fireclay Works. He would have been about 350th on a notional Rich List
Rich List
Rich List may refer to:*BRW Rich 200, the annual published list of rich individuals in Australia*Forbes China Rich List, the annual published list of rich individuals in China*Challenges Les 500, the annual published list of rich individuals in France...
of Britain at the time, with a fortune equal to over £200 million today. At his death, he was one of the richest men in Scotland.
Background and career
Born the son of William Howie, and his second cousin Margaret Howie, Howie joined the family firm and quickly established it as one of the foremost fireclay works in Britain (later bought by Armitage ShanksArmitage Shanks
Armitage Shanks is a British manufacturer of bathroom fixtures and plumbing supplies.In 2004 Armitage Shanks had eight factories in the UK, the largest in Armitage, Staffordshire. Armitage Shanks is one of the sponsors of the Loo of the Year Awards....
), producing a huge range of items from bricks, sanitary ware such as toilets and baths, drainage materials, feeding dishes and troughs, chimneys and garden ornaments. He also owned several large coal mines and pits. Howie's family owned much of the town of Hurlford, including Marchmont Place, Salisbury Place, Collier Row, Office Row, Chapel Cottages, Skerrington Row and Howie's Square. They also owned small mining villages including Hemphill and Corsehill. J & R Howie continued to operate under the National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
, and still exists legally as a company today, though it is currently dormant and non-trading.
In spite of his vast wealth, Howie did not live extravagantly, living at the family home of Newhouse in Hurlford, a mansion-house nearby the mine, now an extended 22-bedroomed residential care home. Howie was a Calvinist, his family having been involved in the Covenanting movement.
Howie's son, Frederick, bought Templetonburn House, one of Aryshire's finest mansions built at a cost of £20,000, before burning down later in the 20th century, and its estate.
Death and legacy
Upon his death in 1895, he had amassed a fortune of £50,000, equivalent to over £100 million today (relative GDP). This sum did not include the value of the business itself or the value of property (which would have taken it to well over £100,000), but was made up from investments, domestic and international, that had been made in numerous mining companies and other manufacturing businesses.Family
Howie married Mary Paterson and had six children.- John Howie was the cousin of industrialist Thomas W. HowieThomas W. HowieThomas Wyllie Howie, JP was a Scottish captain of industry.-Background:Howie was born in Riccarton, Ayrshire, on 8 April 1856 to Robert and Bethia Howie, into a wealthy industrial family who had been active in the Covenanting movement. He was born at the family home, Newhouse, an estate house...
- John Howie was a relation of footballer James HowieJames HowieJames "Jimmy" Howie was a Scottish footballer who later became a manager.Born in Galston, Ayrshire, he joined Kilmarnock from local side Galston Athletic in 1898. He was in the side which won the 1899 Second Division title and the following season earned selection to the Scottish League...
- John Howie was a distant cousin of writer John Howie
- John Howie was the great-great-uncle of actor Robbie ColtraneRobbie ColtraneRobbie Coltrane, OBE is a Scottish actor, comedian and author. He is known both for his role as Dr...
- John Howie was first cousin twice removed of the current Lord GlenarthurSimon Arthur, 4th Baron GlenarthurMajor Simon Mark Arthur, 4th Baron Glenarthur DL, FCILT, FRAeS is a British peer, pilot and businessman. Having succeeded to his father's titles in 1976, he is one of the ninety hereditary peers elected to remain in the House of Lords after the House of Lords Act 1999, and sits as a...