Papers of James Gourlay, 1804-1871, accountant

Papers of James Gourlay relating to Glasgow's water supply, in particular the Loch Katrine project, and Kelvingrove Park, 1852-1868

James Gourlay was born in St Andrews in 1804. His father, Robert Gourlay, was an ironmonger who died in 1811. In 1819, once James had left school, the family moved to Glasgow. He was then apprenticed to the firm of Kerr & Adam, smallware manufacturers. James set up in business with his brother Robert, under the firm name of R & J Gourlay, working as a commercial traveller. In 1838 he established the Commercial Travellers' Society of Scotland, remaining as its Treasurer until his death. He continued working with his brother until 1836, when the latter retired from the business, and James joined Mr John Knox, and the firm became Gourlay & Knox. In 1841 he gave up the wholesale country trade, and started as an accountant at 24 Queen Street and from 1848-1855 he served on Glasgow's City Parochial Board, where he worked on reforming rates and taxes. From 1849 he served on the Town Council and from 1853-1855 was instrumental in opposing the proposal to supply Glasgow with water from Loch Lubnaig instead of Loch Katrine. In 1850 he became a burgh magistrate. In 1855, following a brief retirement, he accepted an offer to work for the Bank of Scotland on the south side of Glasgow. Gourlay died at Bothwell in 1871.

The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received

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Gift : Dr James T. Farquhar : 1998 : ACCN 4708

See also University of Glasgow Collections

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents. Applications for permission to quote should be sent to Archives and Special Collections, please email: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

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