William Fettes
Encyclopedia
Sir William Fettes, 1st Baronet (25 June 1750–27 May 1836) was a wealthy Scottish
businessman and philanthropist, who left a bequest which led to the foundation of Fettes College
, in Edinburgh
.
The eldest son of William and Margaret Fettes, he was born June 25, 1750 and at 8 years old was sent to the Royal High School
in Edinburgh
. When he was eighteen years old he commenced his business life, trading in wine and tea from premises in the High Street. In 1787 he married Maria Malcolm and very quickly they had their only son, also William. His life covered a period of economic expansion in Scotland and, at the commencement of the Napoleonic Wars, he was ideally placed to establish connections with Durham, Leeds and Newcastle becoming an Underwriter, a military contractor and, in 1800, a director of the British Linen Bank.
A merchant, and underwriter, Fettes lived not far from the school’s present location on Comely Bank, in the Stockbridge
district of Edinburgh. He had made his money trading tea
during the Napoleonic wars
, and used this to buy the estate
of Comely Bank. He was by then living at Comely Bank in the Stockbridge district of Edinburgh and he had other estates which he had bought but he was to retire from trade in 1800 to look after these interests. He was involved in many public charities and the general welfare of Edinburgh, becoming Lord Provost of Edinburgh, in 1800 and again in 1805. He became a baronet
in 1804.
In 1815, his only son, William Fettes died of typhoid in Berlin
, on a tour of Europe, at the young age of 27. He had been admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1810 five years previously. Now without an heir, Fettes was to live on to May 1836, predeceasing his wife by just three weeks.
Fettes had originally intended that money from his estate should pay for a hospital rather than a school but he later decided to make it a school for orphans and the needy. In his will he made a bequest which was to lead to the foundation of Fettes College.
His will declares:
After his death the bequest was effected and invested. His Trustees allowed the investments to accumulate for more than twenty five years before they decided that with £166,000, there was enough capital with which to acquire the land, to found the school, and to fund scholarships.
The main school building was designed by David Bryce
, nearly twenty years after Fettes’ death, and the school itself opened in 1870, 34 years after Sir William’s death. Fettes College thus opened with 53 pupils (40 were Foundation Scholars with 11 others boarding & 2 day pupils) and by 1875 there were 200 boys enrolled.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
businessman and philanthropist, who left a bequest which led to the foundation of Fettes College
Fettes College
Fettes College is an independent school for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus...
, 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...
.
Life
Fettes' family came from north east Scotland, where the name can be encountered in such variants as "Vettese" (cf. the Scottish writer Raymond Vettese), "Fittes" and "Fiddes".The eldest son of William and Margaret Fettes, he was born June 25, 1750 and at 8 years old was sent to the Royal High School
Royal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
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...
. When he was eighteen years old he commenced his business life, trading in wine and tea from premises in the High Street. In 1787 he married Maria Malcolm and very quickly they had their only son, also William. His life covered a period of economic expansion in Scotland and, at the commencement of the Napoleonic Wars, he was ideally placed to establish connections with Durham, Leeds and Newcastle becoming an Underwriter, a military contractor and, in 1800, a director of the British Linen Bank.
A merchant, and underwriter, Fettes lived not far from the school’s present location on Comely Bank, in the Stockbridge
Stockbridge, Edinburgh
Stockbridge is an area of Edinburgh, located towards the north of the city, bounded by the New Town and by Comely Bank. The name is Scots stock brig from Anglic stocc brycg, meaning a timber bridge. Originally a small outlying village, it was incorporated into the City of Edinburgh in the 19th...
district of Edinburgh. He had made his money trading tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
during the Napoleonic wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, and used this to buy the estate
Estate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
of Comely Bank. He was by then living at Comely Bank in the Stockbridge district of Edinburgh and he had other estates which he had bought but he was to retire from trade in 1800 to look after these interests. He was involved in many public charities and the general welfare of Edinburgh, becoming Lord Provost of Edinburgh, in 1800 and again in 1805. He became a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1804.
In 1815, his only son, William Fettes died of typhoid in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, on a tour of Europe, at the young age of 27. He had been admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1810 five years previously. Now without an heir, Fettes was to live on to May 1836, predeceasing his wife by just three weeks.
Fettes had originally intended that money from his estate should pay for a hospital rather than a school but he later decided to make it a school for orphans and the needy. In his will he made a bequest which was to lead to the foundation of Fettes College.
The Fettes Bequest
His bequest, of £166,000, in memory of his only son, was for the endowment of a school for orphaned or needy children. Fettes College, cannot be taken to fulfil this bequest as it is an exclusive and expensive private school these days.His will declares:
"It is my intention that the residue of my whole estate should form an endowmentFinancial endowmentA financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
for the maintenance, education and outfit of young people whose parents have either died without leaving sufficient funds for that purpose, or who from innocent misfortune during their lives, are unable to give suitable education to their children."
After his death the bequest was effected and invested. His Trustees allowed the investments to accumulate for more than twenty five years before they decided that with £166,000, there was enough capital with which to acquire the land, to found the school, and to fund scholarships.
The main school building was designed by David Bryce
David Bryce
David Bryce FRSE FRIBA RSA was a Scottish architect. Born in Edinburgh, he was educated at the Royal High School and joined the office of architect William Burn in 1825, aged 22. By 1841, Bryce had risen to be Burn's partner...
, nearly twenty years after Fettes’ death, and the school itself opened in 1870, 34 years after Sir William’s death. Fettes College thus opened with 53 pupils (40 were Foundation Scholars with 11 others boarding & 2 day pupils) and by 1875 there were 200 boys enrolled.
See also
- George HeriotGeorge HeriotGeorge Heriot was a Scottish goldsmith and philanthropist. He is chiefly remembered today as founder of George Heriot's School, a large private school in Edinburgh; his name has also been given to Heriot-Watt University, as well as several streets in the same city.Heriot was the court goldsmith...
, “Jinglin Geordie”, the Edinburgh merchant whose name appears in Heriot-Watt UniversityHeriot-Watt UniversityHeriot-Watt University is a university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The name commemorates George Heriot, the 16th century financier to King James, and James Watt, the great 18th century inventor and engineer....
and George Heriot’s School. - Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland