Thomas W. Howie
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Thomas Wyllie Howie | |
|---|---|
 Thomas W Howie
|
|
| Born | 8 April 1856 Riccarton, Ayrshire, Scotland, UK |
| Died | 18 July 1927 Falkirk, Scotland, UK |
| Occupation | Business, Victorian Captain of Industry |
| Spouse | Barbara Picken |
| Parents | Robert H. Howie and Bethia Howie |
| Children | Margaret Howie Robert Wyllie Bethia Howie Martha Howie Barbara Howie Jean Howie |
Thomas Wyllie Howie, JP, Esq. (8 April 1856 – 18 July 1927) was a Victorian captain of industry who lived in Falkirk, Scotland.
Contents |
[edit] Background
Howie was born in Riccarton in Ayrshire, Scotland on 8 April 1856 to Robert and Bethia Howie, into a wealthy industrial family who had been active in the Covenanting movement.
[edit] Career
He and his wife settled in Falkirk where he became a partner in Campbell & Co Fireclay Works and coal mine, Roughcastle. He later became owner of the mine and brickworks. Previous to settling in Falkirk the Howie family lived in Hurlford, where they owned the renowned Hurlford Fireclay Works (until it was bought by Armitage Shanks), which produced pottery, bricks, chimneys, garden ornaments and enamelled sanitary ware (lavatories, baths, urinals etc.) The family owned much of the town, including Marchmont Place, Salisbury Place, Collier Row, Office Row, Chapel Cottages and Howie's Square. Thomas Howie was a Justice of the Peace and a Stirling County Councillor, Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council, as well as Chairman of the Landward Committee and a member of Falkirk Bowling Club and Falkirk and County Club.
[edit] Family
Howie married Barbara Picken and had six children: Margaret, Robert Wyllie, Bethia, Martha, Barbara and Jean. His sons attended the High School of Glasgow and his daughters St. George's School for Girls and his grandchildren either the High School of Glasgow, Glenalmond College or St. George's.
[edit] Death and Legacy
At a Water Board outing he took ill and never recovered, dying in 1927. The local newspaper at the time remembered him as a 'bright and cheery man', and notes that he 'took a deep interest in parochial affairs and was particularly sympathetic towards the deserving poor'. Thomas Howie is buried in Falkirk Cemetery. On his death, his share of the brickworks business was valued at £12,000, which is equivalent to over £2,300,000 in today's terms (relative GDP per capita).
[edit] Sreet Named After Him
A street, Howie Place, in Falkirk, is named after him. It is nearby the site of the brickworks he once owned.
[edit] Trivia
- Thomas Howie was a distant cousin of writer John Howie
- Thomas Howie was the great-grandfather of actor Robbie Coltrane
- Thomas Howie was the first cousin twice removed of the current Lord Glenarthur
