Honourable gentleman by Provost Kinross.
On 24th May, 1895, Stirling's present Post Office was offici-
ally opened by Provost Kinross in presence of a large gather-
ing of the principal inhabitants, and it being the Queen's
Birthday, the first telegram was despatched to Her Majesty,
to which a gracious reply was received, the first letter posted
being one to Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, acknowledging
his services in connection with the undertaking.
In 1896, the new filters at the Stirling Water Works, on
Touch Hills, were opened by Provost Kinross, when he was
presented with a silver jug in commemoration of the event.
In 1897, the members of the Franco-Scottish Society, on the
occasion of a visit to Stirling, were entertained by the Provost,
Magistrates, and Town Council, the Provost afterwards re-
ceiving a letter, signed by M. Casimir Perier, ex-President cf
the French Republic, expressing warm thanks, and a .high
sense of the courteous attention received from the municipal
authorities at Stirling.
NOTABLE CITIZENS OF STIRLING. 137
In September of the same year, the Provost was chairman
at the national gathering on the Abbey Craig, on the occasion
of the six hundredth anniversary or the Battle of Stirling
Bridge, and led the way for the other speakers with a patriotic
speech. On the evening of the same day he presided at a
banquet in Stirling, when the Earl of Rosebery, in a historic
and eloquent speech, proposed " The Immortal Memory of
Wallace."
Again, in October, 1897, the Provost presided at a crowded
meeting in the Albert Hall, when the Earl of Rosebery received
the freedom of the burgh. Provost Kinross had the honour
of being amongst those invited by Her Majesty the Queen to
a reception at Buckingham Palace 011 the occasion of her
diamond jubilee, and of receiving the medal commemorative
of that event.
Provost Archibald Forrest.
Provost Forrest is a member of an old Stirling family, was
brought up in the heart of the town, and has all his life been
deeply interested in its welfare and prosperity. Along with
his brother, Mr. William Forrest, he has carried 011 a success-
ful business as cabinetmaker, which trade their father and
grandfather practised in their days.
The Provost entered the Council in 1876, and, after serving
the town for 18 years during ten of which he filled the office
of Magistrate retired in 1894. Upon his retiral, in recogni-
tion of his long and faithful public services, he was presented
with his portrait in oil, and Mrs. Forrest with a beautiful
silver tea service. On that occasion ex-Provost Yellowlees,
who made the presentation, said that " it marked the public
appreciation of an exemplary life, a life marked by high moral
worth and by the honourable discharge of all commercial and
personal obligations and of much public usefulness."
Although Mr. Forrest at that time resolved permanently to
retire from public life, still, in 1897, when the municipality
of Stirling was stirred by some burning questions, he was
K
138 OLD STIRLING.
requested to stand for Baker Street Ward, which he had so
long and faithfully represented formerly, and to this request
he yielded, with the result that he was again returned to the
Council, and at the first meeting was appointed Provost. He
has filled the chair with considerable credit, and it is hoped
he may be long spared to occupy a position of public
usefulness.
Bailie Bow of Smallburn.
Died 12th March, 1870.
Mr. Bow began business as a haberdasher in Stirling in the
year 1812. His shop was where now stands the King Street
entrance to the Arcade. Having always taken a deep interest
in matters connected with the Guildry, he was, at Michaelmas,
1821, elected Dean of Guild and a Councillor of the Burgh, to
both of which offices he was subsequently re-elected. In 1826
he was appointed one of the Magistrates, held office for several
years, and was Senior Bailie from 1833 to 1836. He was also
in the Commission of the Peace for the County. In 1838 Mr.
Bow retired from business, and in 1851 went to reside at his
property of Wright Park, near Kippen, where he died. Mr.
Bow being a man of energy and of good business capacity,
discharged the duties of the various offices he held with ability
and advantage to the public. Although never a violent
partizan, he was throughout a warm adherent of the Liberal
party, and to the close of his life took a deep interest in its
success, giving constant and influential support. He was in
the habit of revisiting Stirling now and again, and during the
last ten years of his life seldom allowed two or three weeks to
pass without spending some days in the town, his figure being
almost as familiar on our streets as if he had been still a
citizen.
Mr. Bow was a man of strict integrity, and at the same time
of a very genial nature ; and his loss was sincerely regretted by
all those who had the pleasure of his friendship. He was the
NOTABLE CITIZENS OF STIRLING. 139
first who wore the present chain of office of the Dean of Guild,
on the occasion of the visit of George IV. in 1822.
^ Bailie James Davie.
Died 19th June, 1885.
Mr. James Davie was born at Cambus, near Alloa, in 1819.
He learned the trade of a blacksmith, and commenced business
for himself in Sauchie, afterwards removing to Tillicoultry,
having acquired the smithy there. At Whitsunday, 1857, he
entered into partnership with Messrs Daniel Wylie, millwright,
and Thomas Smith, ironfounder, in Stirling, and they acquired
the iron foundry in Orchard Place, which had been started by
ex-Bailie John Christie a few years previously, and carried on
business under the firm of Wylie, Smith & Davie, millwrights,
ironfouuders, and engineers. Several changes took place in
the firm during the period prior to 1873, when Mr. Davie
acquired the whole business, which has ever since been carried
on under the firm of James Davie & Sons. The firm carried
out several large contracts in connection with the Glasgow
Waterworks near Duchray, ironwork of several large mills in
Glasgow, and the whole of the ironwork of the Singer Manu-
facturing Company's Works at Kilbowie. The tradesmanlike
manner in which these works, and, indeed, all the orders en-
trusted to the firm, have been carried out, has established in
Stirling a nourishing industry, which is still carried on by his
only surviving son.
Mr. Davie was elected a Town Councillor for Baker Street
Ward in 1869, and was appointed a Bailie the following year.
He served 11 years in the Town Council, and was a Magistrate
for ten years. He worshipped in the North Established
Church, and, in May, 1867, was ordained an elder. He was
for a number of years Representative Elder from the Burgh
of Stirling to the General Assembly. He died suddenly, after
a short illness, at his residence in Forth Place, 011 19th June,
1885, at the age of 66 years. Mr. Davie was of a quiet in-
140 OLD STIRLING.
deed, somewhat retiring disposition, and, while he filled the
offices above noted, was not a speaker. He brought to bear,
however, upon the questions uuder discussion a shrewdness
and common sense which commended him to the constituency
/" Councillor William Dowdy.
Died 22nd April, 1890.
Few public men enjoyed the respect and esteem of the com-
munity in greater degree than Councillor William Dowdy. It
is sometimes 110 easy matter to serve at a municipal board with
general acceptance, but it may be said with perfect fairness
that Mr. Dowdy's tenure of office as a Town Councillor was
markedly successful in this direction.
A Son of the Rock, Mr. Dowdy was born in Stirling in 1826.
His father was engaged in business as a merchant tailor, and
to this trade Mr. Dowdy was duly apprenticed. He did not,
however, engage in this occupation for any great length of
time. His father, in addition to tailoring, set up business in
1841 in Murray Place as temperance hotel-keeper. Here he
was engaged for some time, subsequently removing to King
Street, and Mr. William Dowdy undertaking the management
of this enterprise, retired from the trade of tailor altogether.
To the duties of hotel-keeper he devoted his abilities, and as
a Temperance Hotel, " Dowdy's " had a wide popularity.
Mr. Dowdy's public life began with his connection with the
old Parochial Board. As a member of that body he worked
for many years in the interests of the public, and here his
characteristic spirit of philanthropy enabled him to do excel-
lent service. From the Parochial Board he passed to the Town
Council, and was for two terms of office a representative of the
King Street Ward electors. He took an active interest in the
aifairs of the town, and, as Convener of the Cemetery Com-
mittee, was closely identified with the formation of the Ballen-
geich Cemetery. Apart from the doings of the Town Council,
his anxiety for the welfare of the community is witnessed by
NOTABLE CITIZENS OF STIRLING. 141
the Jubilee Fountain in Barntoii Street. This Fountain,
which was erected in 1887, as a memorial of the Jubilee of Her
Majesty Queen Victoria, is a lasting monument of his energy
and perseverance. It also memorialises one of the principles
of his life that of total abstinence. Mr. Dowdy was an
esteemed member and office-bearer in the Baptist Church, but
he was not religious in the denominational sense of the word,
and many other religious movements enjoyed his patronage
and support.
For over twenty years Mr. Dowdy was connected with the
Stirlingshire Rifle Volunteers, holding the rank of sergeant in
A Company for some years, and being one of the leading
" shots," was not only the winner of numerous prizes, but was
a very regular competitor at local and other meetings, where
his geniality was thoroughly appreciated.
Mr. William Dowdy's death took place somewhat suddenly.
The result of a chill, congestion of the lungs set in, and after
a few days' illness he passed away. As a mark of the esteem
in which he was held he was awarded a civic funeral. In addi-
tion to the Magistrates and Town Council several other
public bodies w r ere present, and, as testifying to the good work
which he had done among the poorer class, it may be men-
tioned that a vast concourse, chiefly of this section of the
community, gathered all along the route to the Cemetery and
watched the funeral cortege on its Avay.
In summing up his life-work, it may be well to do so in the
words of a newspaper critic and a journalist is often an im-
partial judge. Stirling, said a newspaper of that time, has
lost one of whose character and disposition too few remain.
It is, no doubt, true that he never bulked so largely in the
eyes of the community as some of those with whom he was
associated in the discharge of public duties, but at the same
time he was known to everybody in the town on account of
his genial affability and kindly humour. He was a philan-
thropist who strove to do good in secret. Frequently he used
to visit the homes of the poor to see if they had the neces-
saries of life, and in this way he distributed much in charity
from week to week. His only reward was the consciousness
142 OLD STIRLING.
that he was doing what was right. In a pulpit reference, the
minister of the Congregational Church used the following
words, and with these we close our short notice: "William
Dowdy needs no epitaph on stone, for he has a better epitaph,
even an epitaph written upon many hearts, and his truest
eulogium will be enshrined in the memories of those who
knew him."
Councillor William Crawford.
Died 20th January, 1894.
William Crawford was one of the most acute and shrewd
men of the town of Stirling. Born in Dunblane in 1836, he
went, when a boy, with his parents to Deanston, where his
youth was spent. He learned the trade of a moulder, and
after completing his apprenticeship he went to Alexandria
(Egypt), where he remained in the employment of a firm of
Liverpool engineers for about ten years. Shortly after return-
ing to this country he married, and began business as a china
merchant in the Cowcaddens and Parliamentary Road, Glas-
gow, which business he carried on with much success. In the
year 1872 he came to Stirling, opening a china shop in Baker
Street, a few doors above the Star Hotel. While there he
added the business of cabinetmaker to that of china merchant,
removing, after some years, to larger and more central pre-
mises in Murray Place.
Mr. Crawford was not many years in Stirling until he
developed schemes for improving the town. His first purchase
was an old property in King Street, on the site of which now
stands what is called the Royal Restaurant. Later he pur-
chased a property in Murray Place, where he built two large
shops, and what was known as the County Club. He also
purchased a property in King Street, and another in Murray
Place, and built, at a cost of about 20,000, the Arcade which
bears his name. His property purchases are too numerous to
NOTABLE CITIZENS OF STIRLING. 14a
detail, but it may be mentioned that he purchased the Golden
Lion Hotel property, and erected in Murray Place, on the
site of some small one storey shops, the three large blocks of
shops and dwelling-houses. He also purchased the estate of
Beechwood at Newhouse, the Queen's Hotel, Stirling, and the
Queen's Hotel, Bridge of Allan. In addition, he had numer-
ous other properties in Stirling, as well as in Kilsyth, Callan-
der, and Dunblane.
Mr. Crawford entered the Town Council in 1877 as a repre-
sentative for Cowane Street Ward, and continued in the
Council until his death, when he was the oldest member.
While in the Council he was Convener of the Works Committee
for some years, in which office his great practical knowledge
and natural ability were of great value to the town. He was
a president of the Albert Place Bowling Club, and took a keen
interest in the King's Park Football Club, to whose funds he
was a generous donor.
Councillor Andrew Colquhoun.
Died 6th May, 1899.
Andrew Colquhoun was born at Tullibody, near Stirling, on
10th June, 1840. He was educated at the village school of
Tullibody, under Alexander M'Gregor, a man of considerable
reputation in the district as a teacher. In 1856 Mr. Colquhoun
became a clerk to Robert Knox & Sons, brewers, Cambus.
There he also learned the trade of brewer, and in 1866 he
came to Stirling to commence business. In 1867 his half-
brother,, Mr. Charles Macdonald, built the St. Ninians Well
Brewery in Burghmuir, where, under Mr. Colquhoun's man-
agement, Mr. Macdonald and he carried on the business of
brewers and serated water manufacturers, as co-partners under
the name of Andrew Colquhoun, till Mr. Colquhoun's death.
In 1868, when the Rev. W. F. Gpldie came from Tullibody
to Stirling to be minister of the South Free Church, Mr.
144 OLD STIRLING.
Colquhoun attached himself to that congregation. From 1869
till his death, Mr. Colquhoun acted as general treasurer of
the congregation and also treasurer of the Sustentation Fund.
During that long period he managed the finances of the church
with success and ability. He also filled the office of deacon hi
the church till his death. In 1871 he married Jane Keith
Murray, daughter of the Rev. James Somerville Murray, M.A.,
St. Cyrus, near Montrose.
In November, 1878, Mr. Colquhoun was elected a member
of Stirling Town Council, and continued a member without a
break until his death, a period of fully twenty years, during
that time serving under five different Provosts. He was
elected Treasurer of the Burgh in 1892, and held this office
till 1898. He was also a Stirling Waterworks Commis-
sioner from 1888, and a member of the Stirling Educational
Trust from the commencement of the Trust in 1886, in both
cases till his death. He was a keen Liberal in politics, and
was a leading member of the Committee of Sir Henry Camp-
bell-Bannerman, the Burgh Member of Parliament.
Mr. Colquhoun not only filled these public offices, but also
gave gratuitous service in various private trusts, and was a
valued friend and adviser to many.
His death was extremely sudden and startling. He was
busy, as usual, at his work on Saturday, 6th May, 1899, and
retired to rest at the usual hour apparently well. In the
morning he was found dead in bed. He was buried on the
following Tuesday in Stirling Cemetery, in the presence of
his fellow Town Councillors and a large and representative
gathering of citizens. A monumental tombstone was readily
subscribed for by his many friends.
Mr. Colquhoun was one of those whose life enriches any
community. While attentive to his business, he was not
absorbed by it. He was a man of deeds, not words. He
made no show, no pretence, and yet all the while he was con-
scientiously serving the public with a single eye, and at the
same time showing the largeness of his heart by giving advice
and help to those in difficulties. This latter side of his char-
acter was little known till after his death, when the story of
NOTABLE CITIZENS OF STIRLING. 145
one little, kindly, unobtrusive act after another served to show
the real nature of the man. A man of practical common sense
and considerable foresight, his advice was always valued by
his friends. His conscientiousness, added to his long service
and natural ability, made him conspicuous in the various
bodies of which he was a member. He was faithful to his
party both in politics and in the Town Council, but his broad-
mindedness and natural good humour preserved him from all
petty feelings towards those who differed from him. Possessed
of a natural talent for finance, his Convenership of the Finance
Committee of the Town Council and Police Commission from
1891 to 1898 was perhaps the sphere in which Mr. Col-
quhoun's usefulness as a Town Councillor was most clearly
shown. At the time of his death he was President of the
Stirling Curling Club. He was a keen curler, and here again
his good qualities showed themselves in the fairness and
courtesy which characterised his conduct and his play.
Mr. Colquhoun's name is deserving of notice in this book as
a citizen of integrity and ability, who was useful in his day
and generation in the conduct of the public business of the
town of his adoption, and as one who, by his unobtrusive acts
of kindness, his genial disposition, and straightforward con-
duct, showed himself to be worthy of what is indeed the best
title a man can receive that of a Christian gentleman.
James Rae, M.D., RN.
Died 15th May, 1899.
Dr. James Rae was the son of Dr. John Rae, St. Ninians,
and was born on 16th March, 1821, and educated in the
Parish School of St. Ninians, under the late Dr. Knox.
After leaving school he studied at the University of Glasgow,
which he left in 1840 with the degree of qualified surgeon.
Dr. Rae entered the Royal Navy on 20th May, 1841, and
was appointed additional assistant-surgeon to H.M.S.
146 OLD STIRLING.
" Queen," at Portsmouth, but was afterwards transferred to
H.M.S. " Electra," in which he went to the West Indies,
where he served till early in 1845. On his return to Britain
he studied under Dr. Buchanan to perfect his knowledge of
anatomy.
On August 27th, 1845, he was appointed assistant-surgeon
to H.M.S. " Meteor," in which vessel he served on the Medi-
terranean Station till 2nd November, 1848. On 27th
March, 1849, he was appointed assistant-surgeon (in charge)
to H.M.S. " North Star," which sailed from Greenhithe on
16th May, 1849, for the Polar regions, to deposit supplies
for Sir John Franklin, which it was hoped he would receive
on his return journey, but which were not destined to be
used by the great explorer. The " North Star " was to have
called for letters at Aberdeen, but stress of weather com-
pelled them to go on to Stromness, where fresh provisions
were taken on board. On 8th June they sighted ice near
Cape Farewell, and the steamer, " Stromboli," which had ac-
companied them so far, returned home, taking letters from the
" North Star." After much discomfort and labour, a safe
harbour for wintering was got in Woolstenholme Sound on
1st October. For about twelve months the ship was fast in
ice, and only through much labour and sawing was it got
safely out, and reached England in October, 1850. On the
10th of that month Dr. Rae was appointed full surgeon.
After being on half-pay for some months, on 7th August,
1851, he was appointed to H.M.S. " Volcano," in which he
served on the West Coast of Africa till 30th January, 1854.
On 13th February of the same year he was married to Miss
Christina Young Somerville, St. Ninians. On 22nd March,
1854, he was commissioned to H.M.S. " Fisgard," for duty at
Greenwich Hospital, where Sir Edward Parry was Lieut.-
Governor and Sir John Liddell Inspector-General. He held
this appointment until 17th March, 1857. A few months
later Dr. Rae was appointed Assisting-Surgeon to the Lunatic
Department of Haslar Hospital, Captain (afterwards Sir
Sidney) Dacres being superintendent. On 6th November,
1858, he was appointed to take full charge, and on 7th July,
NOTABLE CITIZENS OF STIRLING. 147
1859, promoted to be Deputy Inspector-General, under the
Hoii. George Hastings, Captain-Superintendent. An oppor-
tunity having occurred, Dr. Rae took his M.D. degree at
Aberdeen on the 27th July, 1860.
Sir John Liddell was anxious to remove the Lunatic
Department from Haslar to Great Yarmouth, where they
could have an hospital to themselves, and this was done
under the superintendence of Dr. Rae 011 28th May, 1863.
After three years' service at Great Yarmouth, Dr. Rae re-
tired on 26th June, 1866, when he came to reside in Stirling.
For some years after coming to Stirling Dr. Rae engaged in
private practice, but a good deal of his services were given
to the poor, and believing that medical advice was of no use
unless there were the means to carry it out, he frequently
provided such along with the advice. Dr. Rae avoided
publicity on every occasion, and it was only his most intimate
friends who knew of the many kindnesses he performed to
suffering humanity.
To the last he was a keen student, and spent much of his
tune in microscopical research. After retiring from his pro-
fession he devoted considerable attention to the study of the
Diatomacese, and possessed a most valuable collection of these
microscopic Algse, which, by his will, was left to the Museum
of Haslar Hospital, where it is now deposited. Dr. Rae was
one of a number of gentlemen who met at the Smith
Institute over 20 years ago to consider the question of form-
ing a local Natural History Society, which still flourishes
under the name of the Stirling Natural History and Arch-
seological Society.
For a year or two declining health prevented him from en-
joying active exercise, or from taking part in excursions in
quest of diatoms, but all his interests and clear intellect were
retained till the end, when he was struck down by a paralytic
stroke, after which he only survived a few days, passing
peacefully away on the loth of May, 1899. He was
interred in Stirling Cemetery.
148 OLD STIRLING.
Colonel Edmond.
More than three centuries ago, a boy of ten or twelve yean,
of age, the son of a respectable baker in the burgh, removed a
coin from the collection-plate at the door of the Parish Church.
The larceny was discovered, and the youth, ashamed of his
fault, departed hastily for the Continent, and for many years
was unheard of. He had enlisted in the army of Maurice,
Prince of Orange, where he so greatly distinguished himself
by his valour and good conduct, as to rise to the rank of
Colonel. Having acquired a competent fortune, he retired
from military service, and, returning to Stirling, made com-
pensation for his juvenile delinquency by erecting a manse for
the Minister of the First Charge. The structure, which stood
in the open space at Church Wynd, at the head of Broad
Street, was removed in 1824. For eleven years preceding
1660 it was the abode of the Rev. James Guthrie, one of the
most distinguished martyrs of the second Reformation.
One day, while Colonel Edmond was on parade with several
brother officers, he was accosted by a stranger, who professed
to have newly come from Scotland, and left the Colonel's rela-
tions well, enumerating several of high rank. Edmond,
turning from him indignantly, informed the circle, that how-
ever this unknown personage might flatter his vanity, he must,
in candour, inform them, if they did not already know, that
he had the honour (of which he should ever be proud) to be
the son of an honest baker and freeman in the ancient borough