Sir John Muir, 1st BaronetDLJP (1828–1903) was a Scottish businessman who served as Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1889 to 1892. He founded Finlay Muir & Co, one of the world's largest 19th century companies.
The grave of Sir John Muir of Deanston, Kincardine-in-Menteith
He was born on 8 December 1828, the son of James Muir (b.1801) and his wife, Elizabeth Brown.
In 1849 Muir joined James Finlay and Co. cotton mill owners. In 1861 he became a junior partner and after buying out other partners became sole partner in 1883. Due to the American Civil War the company had to relocate the main source of cotton to India in 1871. There, with his cousin Hugh Brown Muir, they established the firm of Finlay Muir & Co. In 1882, due to the Indian connection, they branched into tea plantations, and from there into rubber and jute. He became the major world stakeholder in tea growing and packing.[1]
They also acquired plantations in Sri Lanka. By the end of the 19th century they controlled 270,000 acres, 77,000 of which were tea plantations.[2]
The company's Indian headquarters were at Dalhousie Square in Calcutta, alongside the government buildings.[3] The main production building was at Lyons Range next to the Calcutta Stock Exchange.[4]
In 1900 he lived at 6 Park Gardens, a grand three storey basement and attic terraced townhouse in Glasgow near Kelvingrove Park, and also had his country property, Deanston House in Perthshire.[7] The Deanston property linked to Deanston Mill , one of the largest cotton mills in Scotland, employing 1000 people (now converted to a whisky distillery).
By his final years Finlay Muir & Co had 90,000 employees worldwide, one of the largest companies ever. Approximately 70,000 were in the Indian subcontinent.[1]
Muir died on 6 August 1903. He is buried in the remote rural burial ground of Kincardine-in Menteith, south-east of Deanston and west of Blair Drummond. The grave lies in a private enclosure accessed from a field to the north. The enclosure attaches to the north-west corner of the burial ground.
Finlay Muir had tea-trading premises in Glasgow until 2007.[8]
Familyedit
Muir married Margaret Morrison Kay (d.1929). They had ten children, the first six being girls, then four sons.[9]
The baronetcy passed to the eldest son, Sir Alexander Kay Muir (1868-1951).[10]
Baronet (of Deanston and Park Gardens, Glasgow) 1892 – 1903
Succeeded by
Alexander Kay Muir
January 01, 1970
john, muir, baronet, 1828, 1903, scottish, businessman, served, lord, provost, glasgow, from, 1889, 1892, founded, finlay, muir, world, largest, 19th, century, companies, arms, john, muir, contents, life, family, artistic, recognition, references, external, li. Sir John Muir 1st Baronet DL JP 1828 1903 was a Scottish businessman who served as Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1889 to 1892 He founded Finlay Muir amp Co one of the world s largest 19th century companies Arms of Sir John Muir Bt Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 Artistic Recognition 4 References 5 External linksLife edit nbsp The grave of Sir John Muir of Deanston Kincardine in Menteith He was born on 8 December 1828 the son of James Muir b 1801 and his wife Elizabeth Brown In 1849 Muir joined James Finlay and Co cotton mill owners In 1861 he became a junior partner and after buying out other partners became sole partner in 1883 Due to the American Civil War the company had to relocate the main source of cotton to India in 1871 There with his cousin Hugh Brown Muir they established the firm of Finlay Muir amp Co In 1882 due to the Indian connection they branched into tea plantations and from there into rubber and jute He became the major world stakeholder in tea growing and packing 1 They also acquired plantations in Sri Lanka By the end of the 19th century they controlled 270 000 acres 77 000 of which were tea plantations 2 The company s Indian headquarters were at Dalhousie Square in Calcutta alongside the government buildings 3 The main production building was at Lyons Range next to the Calcutta Stock Exchange 4 Muir was elected Lord Provost of Glasgow in 1889 and created a baronet by Queen Victoria in October 1892 his final year in office 5 He was succeeded as Lord Provost by Sir James Bell He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 4th Volunteer Battalion Cameronians Scottish Rifles in 1891 6 In 1900 he lived at 6 Park Gardens a grand three storey basement and attic terraced townhouse in Glasgow near Kelvingrove Park and also had his country property Deanston House in Perthshire 7 The Deanston property linked to Deanston Mill one of the largest cotton mills in Scotland employing 1000 people now converted to a whisky distillery By his final years Finlay Muir amp Co had 90 000 employees worldwide one of the largest companies ever Approximately 70 000 were in the Indian subcontinent 1 Muir died on 6 August 1903 He is buried in the remote rural burial ground of Kincardine in Menteith south east of Deanston and west of Blair Drummond The grave lies in a private enclosure accessed from a field to the north The enclosure attaches to the north west corner of the burial ground Finlay Muir had tea trading premises in Glasgow until 2007 8 Family editMuir married Margaret Morrison Kay d 1929 They had ten children the first six being girls then four sons 9 The baronetcy passed to the eldest son Sir Alexander Kay Muir 1868 1951 10 Artistic Recognition editHe was portrayed in 1889 by Sir John Lavery 11 He was further portrayed in office by Joseph Henderson 12 References edit a b History Finlays Retrieved 2 July 2018 James Finlay Group Koi Hai 1 August 2011 Retrieved 2 July 2018 Finlay Muir amp Co Royal Exchange Place 20 July 2014 Retrieved 2 July 2018 Finlay Muir amp Co Fibis Retrieved 2 July 2018 London Gazette 25 October 1892 Army List Glasgow Post Office directory 1900 Scotsman newspaper 18 February 2007 Person Page 51829 The Peertage Retrieved 2 July 2018 Sir Alexander Kay Muir 2nd Bt The Peertage Retrieved 2 July 2018 John Muir of Deanston 1st Bt Lord Provost of Glasgow The Athenaeum Sir John Muir 1828 1903 Lord Provost of Glasgow 1889 1892 Art UK Retrieved 2 July 2018 External links editVideo footage and history of St Lolan s Kirk and Burial Ground Baronetage of the United Kingdom New creation Baronet of Deanston and Park Gardens Glasgow 1892 1903 Succeeded byAlexander Kay Muir Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sir John Muir 1st Baronet amp oldid 1217231872, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
