Kirkman Finlay
Encyclopedia
Kirkman Finlay was one of the leading merchants in Glasgow
, Scotland
. He was Lord Provost of Glasgow and Member of Parliament
.
Kirkman was born in the Gallowgate, the second son of textile manufacturer James Finlay (1727–1790). He and his brothers inherited the family business, James Finlay & Co., Manufacturers and East India Merchants on their father's death in 1790. He made strenuous efforts to capture lucrative Asian markets, successfully challenging the supremacy of the British East India Company
in trade with India and the Far East. Under his leadership the business expanded, moving into cotton manufacturing with the purchase of the Ballindalloch Works in 1798. They became the largest textile concern in Scotland and the first British merchant to trade directly with India (1816).
While being able to develop the family business he also led a very active public life. He was Governor of the Forth and Clyde Navigation, President of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
eight times, Dean of Guild, Lord Provost of Glasgow (1812), Member of Parliament
(1812–1820). A marble statue by John Gibson
(1790–1866) is in the vestibule of the Merchants' House on Hutcheson Street.
His opinions, especially on mercantile questions, were listened to when he was in the House of Commons
, and quoted there when he had left it; always a busy man, he still found time for much public and charitable work – he was a liberal and a kindly man, and his word was as good as his bond.
Described as “a political economist of an advanced type”, his knowledge of banking was considerable. He was an extraordinary director of The Royal Bank of Scotland from 1821 until his death in 1842, and made his presence felt in many matters of importance in Scotland at that time. He was part of the abortive scheme to raise a joint-stock bank in Glasgow around 1793, he agitated for the retention of the Scottish one pound note in 1826 (appearing before the House of Commons Committee on Promissory notes in Scotland and Ireland), and was also active in opposing the changes to factory conditions in 1833.
Finlay's financial success demonstrated the central importance of cotton textiles in Glasgow's domestic economy and he deserves a place on the roll of those who have helped to make Glasgow.
He built Castle Toward
on the Cowal
peninsula as his country home.
Finlay briefly studied at the University of Glasgow and was elected its Rector in 1819. In 1820, rumours spread over the university that he is building up a motion to disallow student voting at rectorial elections. In the resulting student campaign Finlay was defeated in the re-election by Francis Jeffrey
. He however later served as Dean of Faculties between 1839 and 1840.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland
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...
. He was Lord Provost of Glasgow and Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
Kirkman was born in the Gallowgate, the second son of textile manufacturer James Finlay (1727–1790). He and his brothers inherited the family business, James Finlay & Co., Manufacturers and East India Merchants on their father's death in 1790. He made strenuous efforts to capture lucrative Asian markets, successfully challenging the supremacy of the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
in trade with India and the Far East. Under his leadership the business expanded, moving into cotton manufacturing with the purchase of the Ballindalloch Works in 1798. They became the largest textile concern in Scotland and the first British merchant to trade directly with India (1816).
While being able to develop the family business he also led a very active public life. He was Governor of the Forth and Clyde Navigation, President of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
eight times, Dean of Guild, Lord Provost of Glasgow (1812), Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(1812–1820). A marble statue by John Gibson
John Gibson (sculptor)
John Gibson, was a Welsh sculptor.-Early life:He was born near Conwy, Wales, his father being a market gardener. To his mother, whom he described as ruling his father and all the family, he owed the energy and determination which carried him over every obstacle.When he was nine years old the...
(1790–1866) is in the vestibule of the Merchants' House on Hutcheson Street.
His opinions, especially on mercantile questions, were listened to when he was in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
, and quoted there when he had left it; always a busy man, he still found time for much public and charitable work – he was a liberal and a kindly man, and his word was as good as his bond.
Described as “a political economist of an advanced type”, his knowledge of banking was considerable. He was an extraordinary director of The Royal Bank of Scotland from 1821 until his death in 1842, and made his presence felt in many matters of importance in Scotland at that time. He was part of the abortive scheme to raise a joint-stock bank in Glasgow around 1793, he agitated for the retention of the Scottish one pound note in 1826 (appearing before the House of Commons Committee on Promissory notes in Scotland and Ireland), and was also active in opposing the changes to factory conditions in 1833.
Finlay's financial success demonstrated the central importance of cotton textiles in Glasgow's domestic economy and he deserves a place on the roll of those who have helped to make Glasgow.
He built Castle Toward
Castle Toward
Castle Toward is an outdoor education facility, based in a nineteenth century country house on the southern tip of the Cowal peninsula in Argyll, Scotland.-Toward Castle:...
on the Cowal
Cowal
thumb|Cowal shown within ArgyllCowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.-Description:The northern part of Cowal is mostly the mountainous Argyll Forest Park. Cowal is separated from the Kintyre peninsula to the west by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to...
peninsula as his country home.
Finlay briefly studied at the University of Glasgow and was elected its Rector in 1819. In 1820, rumours spread over the university that he is building up a motion to disallow student voting at rectorial elections. In the resulting student campaign Finlay was defeated in the re-election by Francis Jeffrey
Francis Jeffrey
Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey was a Scottish judge and literary critic.He was born in Edinburgh, the son of a clerk in the Court of Session. After attending the Royal High School for six years, he studied at the University of Glasgow from 1787 to May 1789, and at Queen's College, Oxford, from...
. He however later served as Dean of Faculties between 1839 and 1840.