Baillie Thomas Arbuthnot
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For a different Thomas Arbuthnot, click here
Thomas Arbuthnot, 4th of Rora, "the Old Baillie" (1681 - 24 March 1762) was factor on the Marsichal estate (retiring from that office before 1720) and Baillie of Peterhead.
Arbuthnot was the son of Nathaniel Arbuthnot and Elspet Duncan. In 1710 Baillie Thomas Arbuthnot, who was gifted with an enterprising disposition, initiated the manufacture of kelp on a commercial scale. Historians have recorded that in 1722 the inhabitants of the island of Orkney were the first people in Scotland to manufacture kelp by the incineration of seaweed (Neish). He rallied the tenants on the Marischal estate to the standard of James VIII, Prince Charles Edward Stuart, staunchly supporting the Prince in 1715 and 1745.
He married Christian Young, daughter of William Young, merchant of Peterhead and had issue.
[edit] References
- Arbuthnot, Mrs P S-M (1920). Memories of the Arbuthnots. George Allen & Unwin.
- Incinerating seaweed
