John Ritchie Findlay
Encyclopedia
John Ritchie Findlay was a Scottish
newspaper
owner and philanthropist
.
He was born at Arbroath
, Angus
, son of Peter Findlay and was educated at Edinburgh University. In 1842, following the failure of his father's drapery business, he moved to Edinburgh and joined the publishing office of the newspaper The Scotsman
, co-founded and later solely owned by his great-uncle John Ritchie
, with whom he initially lived. After a period as a clerk, he moved to the editorial office.
In 1863 he married Susan Leslie.
He became a partner in the paper in 1868, and in 1870 inherited the greater part of the property from his great uncle.
The large increase in the influence and circulation of the paper was in a great measure due to his activity and direction, and it brought him a fortune, which he spent during his lifetime in public benefaction. He presented to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
, opened in Edinburgh
in 1889, and costing over 70,000 pounds sterling; and he contributed largely to the collections of the National Gallery of Scotland
.
He held numerous offices in antiquarian, educational and charitable societies, including:
Findlay also undertook a number of practical philanthropic projects under his own direct supervision, the most significant of which were concerned with the provision of 'ideal' workers' housing. In 1889 he built the "Well Court" development in Edinburgh's Dean Village
(designed by Sydney Mitchell
), followed by the further developments of Hawthorn Buildings and Dean Path Buildings in the same area in 1895 (designed by James Bow Dunn and Findlay's son James Leslie Findlay
).
He avoided political office and refused the offer of a baronetcy in 1896. The freedom of Edinburgh was given him in 1896. He died at Aberlour
, Banffshire
, in 1898.
He was buried in the Dean Cemetery
in Edinburgh. Other memorials were erected to his memory in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (memorial by Rowand Anderson
incorporating portrait by Sir George Reid
and a stained glass portrait medallion in the east staircase again designed by Rowand Anderson
and executed by W Graham Boss), a series of memorial windows in St Giles High Kirk in Edinburgh, and a memorial window in Aberlour
Parish Church.
His elder son Sir John Ritchie Findlay
, and grandson Sir Edmund Findlay followed him as proprietors of The Scotsman. His younger son, James Leslie Findlay
became an architect, among whose projects were distinctive new offices and printing works for The Scotsman on North Bridge
, Edinburgh.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
owner and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
He was born at Arbroath
Arbroath
Arbroath or Aberbrothock is a former royal burgh and the largest town in the council area of Angus in Scotland, and has a population of 22,785...
, Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
, son of Peter Findlay and was educated at Edinburgh University. In 1842, following the failure of his father's drapery business, he moved to Edinburgh and joined the publishing office of the newspaper The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
, co-founded and later solely owned by his great-uncle John Ritchie
John Ritchie (newspaper owner)
John Ritchie was a Scottish newspaper owner.He was born at Kirkcaldy, Fife, and at an early age went in service to a small farmer near Largo. Later he returned to Kirkcaldy, working as a hand-loom weaver...
, with whom he initially lived. After a period as a clerk, he moved to the editorial office.
In 1863 he married Susan Leslie.
He became a partner in the paper in 1868, and in 1870 inherited the greater part of the property from his great uncle.
The large increase in the influence and circulation of the paper was in a great measure due to his activity and direction, and it brought him a fortune, which he spent during his lifetime in public benefaction. He presented to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery on Queen Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. It holds the national collections of portraits, all of which are of, but not necessarily by, Scots. In addition it also holds the Scottish National Photography Collection...
, opened in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1889, and costing over 70,000 pounds sterling; and he contributed largely to the collections of the National Gallery of Scotland
National Gallery of Scotland
The National Gallery of Scotland, in Edinburgh, is the national art gallery of Scotland. An elaborate neoclassical edifice, it stands on The Mound, between the two sections of Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens...
.
He held numerous offices in antiquarian, educational and charitable societies, including:
- The Society of Antiquaries (Secretary)
- Association for the Medical Education of Women (President)
- Edinburgh Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor (Founder)
- United Industrial School
- Board of Manufactures (Trustee)
- Edinburgh Sick Children's Hospital (Director)
Findlay also undertook a number of practical philanthropic projects under his own direct supervision, the most significant of which were concerned with the provision of 'ideal' workers' housing. In 1889 he built the "Well Court" development in Edinburgh's Dean Village
Dean Village
Dean Village is a former village immediately northwest of Edinburgh, Scotland city centre. It was known as the "Water of Leith Village" and was a successful grain milling hamlet for more than 800 years. At one time there were no fewer than eleven working mills there, driven by the strong currents...
(designed by Sydney Mitchell
Sydney Mitchell
Arthur George Sydney Mitchell was a Scottish architect. He designed a large number of bank branches, country houses, churches and church halls...
), followed by the further developments of Hawthorn Buildings and Dean Path Buildings in the same area in 1895 (designed by James Bow Dunn and Findlay's son James Leslie Findlay
James Leslie Findlay
James Leslie Findlay was a Scottish architect and soldier.James Leslie Findlay was the younger son of John Ritchie Findlay and Susan Leslie. He practiced as an architect in Edinburgh between 1885-1915. Initially apprenticed to A G Sydney Mitchell, he went into partnership with James Bow Dunn in 1894...
).
He avoided political office and refused the offer of a baronetcy in 1896. The freedom of Edinburgh was given him in 1896. He died at Aberlour
Aberlour
Aberlour , is the name of a place in Moray, Scotland, 12 miles south of Elgin on the road to Grantown. A burn , a tributary of the River Spey, and surrounding parish, are both named Aberlour, but the name is most commonly used in reference to the village which straddles the stream and flanks the...
, Banffshire
Banffshire
The County of Banff is a registration county for property, and Banffshire is a Lieutenancy area of Scotland.The County of Banff, also known as Banffshire, was a local government county of Scotland with its own county council between 1890 and 1975. The county town was Banff although the largest...
, in 1898.
He was buried in the Dean Cemetery
Dean Cemetery
The Dean Cemetery is a prominent cemetery in the Dean Village, in Edinburgh, Scotland.-Dean House:It stands on the site of Dean House , part of Dean Estate which had been purchased in 1609 by Sir William Nisbet, who became in 1616 Lord Provost of Edinburgh. The Nisbets of Dean held the office of...
in Edinburgh. Other memorials were erected to his memory in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (memorial by Rowand Anderson
Robert Rowand Anderson
Sir Robert Rowand Anderson RSA was a Scottish Victorian architect. Anderson trained in the office of George Gilbert Scott in London before setting up his own practice in Edinburgh in 1860. During the 1860s his main work was small churches in the 'First Pointed' style that is characteristic of...
incorporating portrait by Sir George Reid
George Reid (Scottish artist)
-Early life and education:Reid was born in Aberdeen in 1841. He developed an early passion for drawing, which led to his being apprenticed in 1854 for seven years to Messrs Keith & Gibb, lithographers in Aberdeen...
and a stained glass portrait medallion in the east staircase again designed by Rowand Anderson
Robert Rowand Anderson
Sir Robert Rowand Anderson RSA was a Scottish Victorian architect. Anderson trained in the office of George Gilbert Scott in London before setting up his own practice in Edinburgh in 1860. During the 1860s his main work was small churches in the 'First Pointed' style that is characteristic of...
and executed by W Graham Boss), a series of memorial windows in St Giles High Kirk in Edinburgh, and a memorial window in Aberlour
Aberlour
Aberlour , is the name of a place in Moray, Scotland, 12 miles south of Elgin on the road to Grantown. A burn , a tributary of the River Spey, and surrounding parish, are both named Aberlour, but the name is most commonly used in reference to the village which straddles the stream and flanks the...
Parish Church.
His elder son Sir John Ritchie Findlay
Sir John Ritchie Findlay, 1st Baronet
Sir John Ritchie Findlay, 1st Baronet KBE , a Scotsman, was the owner of the business that published The Scotsman, a philanthropist, and later in life Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire.-Family and education:...
, and grandson Sir Edmund Findlay followed him as proprietors of The Scotsman. His younger son, James Leslie Findlay
James Leslie Findlay
James Leslie Findlay was a Scottish architect and soldier.James Leslie Findlay was the younger son of John Ritchie Findlay and Susan Leslie. He practiced as an architect in Edinburgh between 1885-1915. Initially apprenticed to A G Sydney Mitchell, he went into partnership with James Bow Dunn in 1894...
became an architect, among whose projects were distinctive new offices and printing works for The Scotsman on North Bridge
North Bridge, Edinburgh
North Bridge is a road bridge and street in Edinburgh linking the High Street with Princes Street, and the New Town with the Old. The current bridge was built between 1894–97. A previous North Bridge, built from 1763–72, stood until 1896....
, Edinburgh.
Publications (partial)
- Personal Recollections of Thomas De Quincey Edinburgh, Adam and Charles Black, 1886
- A History of Hatton House Edinburgh, 1875
- Notes on Hatton House, Mid-Lothian, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol.11, 1876