John McGaw (1832-1885) was a seaman and steamboat captain on the River Clyde.
Born in Stranraer, McGaw went to sea as a boy and travelled the world in his early years. Most of his career was spent as an employee of David Hutcheson & Co, later David MacBrayne & Co, being appointed captain in 1861. McGaw had command of two of the most famous paddle-steamers to sail on the Clyde during the Victorian era, Iona and Columba. The latter is particularly noteworthy as one of the first Clyde steamers to be constructed of steel. McGaw was a highly respected skipper with a reputation for ensuring the safety of his passengers.
Reference: Mitchell Library, GC 920.04 BAI
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
captains, Columba, David Hutcheson & Co., David MacBrayne & Co., Iona, paddle-steamers, River Clyde, seamen, steamboats
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