Sir Archibald Orr Ewing (1819-1893) was a turkey-red dyer, MP and landowner.
Educated at the University of Glasgow, Ewing learned the processes of turkey-red dyeing, printing and colour making at the Vale of Leven works of his brother John. In 1845 his brother helped him form the partnership Archibald Orr Ewing & Co, specialising in turkey-red dyeing, and he went on to acquire large landed estates in Invernessshire and Stirlingshire and to build substantial shareholdings in railway, shipping and other companies. He died a millionaire.
Ewing held office in the Merchants' House and was a generous contributor to charities. He contributed to the fund to erect the new University buildings at Gilmorehill. He was the Conservative MP for Dunbartonshire for twenty-four years from 1868 and founder of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Newspaper Co which published newspapers that supported Conservative policies. He was created a baronet in 1886.
Reference: Mitchell Library, 920.04BAI
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
Archibald Orr Ewing & Co, Conservative Party, dyers, Glasgow and West of Scotland Newspaper Co, landowners, Members of Parliament, Merchants' House, millionaires, MPs, turkey-red dyeing, University of Glasgow