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Tait's Directory p31

Mitchell Library, Glasgow Collection

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Tait's Directory p31

This image is taken from a facsimile reprint published in 1871 by Robert Forrester. Page 31 includes surnames from Finlay to Forester.

James Finlay was the founder of James Finlay & Co, a long established Glasgow firm, which prospered as manufacturers and exporters of cotton goods. Under his son, Kirkman Finlay, the firm expanded to become the largest textile concern in Scotland.

William French was a tobacco merchant. His firm of French, Crawford & Co was sufficiently succesful for him to purchase the estate of Baillieston. French was one of the founder directors of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce. He was a magistrate, and Lord Provost, 1778-1780. His fortunes were adversely affected by the disruption to trade caused by the American War of Independence, 1776-1783, and he was declared bankrupt in 1786.

Reference: Mitchell Library, GC 914.14351

Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning

Keywords:
American War of Independence, bankruptcies, bankrupts, cotton merchants, directories, family history, French, Crawford & Co, genealogy, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, James Finlay & Co, John Tait's Directory, lord provosts, magistrates, textiles, Tobacco Lords, tobacco merchants



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