identified with the development of banks and railroads in
Pennsylvania. George Smith (1808-99), born in Aberdeenshire, founded
the Wisconsin Marine and Fire Insurance Company (1839) and was later a
prominent banker in Georgia. Alexander Mitchell (1817-87), financier,
railroad builder, and one of the Commissioners of Public Debt of
Milwaukee, was born near Ellon, Aberdeenshire. Brown Brothers, bankers
in New York, was founded by Alexander Brown (1764-1834) who was born
in Ballymena of Ulster Scot parentage. George Bain (1836-91),
merchant, banker, and director in many railroads, banks, and insurance
companies, was born in Stirling, Scotland. Robert Craig Chambers (b.
1831), miner, financier, and State Senator of Utah, was of Scottish
descent. John Aikman Stewart (b. 1822), President of the United States
Trust Company and Assistant Treasurer of the United States, was born
in New York city, son of a native of Stornoway, Hebrides. Alonzo
Barton Hepburn (b. 1847), descendant of Patrick Hepburn who came from
Scotland in 1736, President of the Chase National Bank, a
distinguished New York banker, has written much on financial subjects.
Thomas William Lamont (b. 1870), whose forefather came from
Argyllshire, is a member of the firm of J.P. Morgan & Co., and
prominent in international finance. Walter Edwin Frew, President of
the Corn Exchange Bank, New York, and President of the New York
Clearing House is of Scottish parentage. He was a pioneer of the
branch banking system in New York. James Berwick Forgan, born in St.
Andrews, in 1852, President of the First National Bank of Chicago, is
a pillar of finance. Andrew Glassell (1827-1901), descendant of a
Dumfriesshire emigrant of 1756, was a prominent lawyer and banker in
Los Angeles. James Alexander Linen (b. 1840), President of the First
National Bank of Scranton, was of Scottish parentage. George Rutledge
Gibson (b. 1853), of Scottish descent, has written largely on
questions of foreign finance. John Hall McClement (b. 1862), railroad
and financial expert, is of Scottish parentage. Duncan MacInnes, born
at Inveresk, near Edinburgh, has been Chief Accountant of the City of
New York for many years, and is one of the best equipped men in
municipal finance in America. Robert Graham Dun (1826-1900),
mercantile credit expert, was grandson of Rev. James Dun, minister in
Glasgow, who emigrated to Virginia, c. 1815.
Robert Burns Beath (1839-1914), President of the United Firemens'
Insurance Company of Philadelphia, and author of the "History of the
Grand Army of the Republic" (1888), was of Scots parentage. William C.
Alexander (1806-74), President of the Equitable Life Insurance
Company, was second son of Dr. Archibald Alexander of Princeton. His
son James Waddell Alexander (1839-1915), was also President of the
same Company. John Augustine McCall (1849-1906), President of the New
York Life Insurance Company, was of Ulster Scot descent.
Men of Scottish birth or Scottish descent have had a prominent place
in the development of the railroads of the United States from their
inception to the present day. It was a Scot, Peter Fleming, Surveyor
of the upper part of New York city, who laid out the grades for the
first railroad in the state. John Inslee (or Insley) Blair (1802-99),
founder of the Lackawanna Coal and Iron Company (1846), financier and
founder of the Delaware and Lackawanna Railroad, was a descendant of
Samuel Blair who came from Scotland in 1720. Blairstown, New Jersey,
is named in his honor. He gave half a million dollars to various
Presbyterian institutions. Samuel Sloan (1817-1907), President of the
Delaware and Lackawanna Railroad (1867-99), was born in Lisburn of
Ulster Scot ancestry. John T. Grant (1813-87), railroad builder in
Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, was of
Scottish origin; and so also was Thomas Alexander Scott (1824-81),
Vice-President and President of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Assistant
Secretary of War (1861-62), and President of the Texas Pacific
Railroad. James McCrea (b. 1836), descended from James McCrea, an
Ulster Scot who came to America in 1776, was one of the ablest
Presidents of the Pennsylvania Railroad. John Edgar Thompson, third
President, Frank Thompson, sixth Vice-President of the Pennsylvania
system, were also of Scottish descent. Alexander Johnson Cassatt,
seventh President, was Scottish on his mother's side. Another
prominent Scot connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad was Robert
Pitcairn, born at Johnstone, near Paisley, in 1836. Angus Archibald
McLeod (b. 1847), re-organizer of the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad was also a Scot; and George Devereux Mackay (b. 1854), banker
and railroad builders, was descended from John Mackay who came from
Caithness in 1760. John Allan Muir (1852-1904), railroad promoter of
California, was of Scottish parentage.
SCOTS AS JOURNALISTS, PUBLISHERS AND TYPEFOUNDERS
The first newspaper printed in North America, _The Boston News-Letter_
for April 24, 1704, was published by a Scot, John Campbell
(1653-1728), bookseller and postmaster of Boston. John Mein and John
Fleming, the founders and publishers of _The Boston Chronicle_ (1767)
were both born in Scotland. The paper was printed "on a new and
handsome type, a broad faced long primer, from an Edinburgh foundry,
and typographically far surpassed any paper that had appeared before
it in New England." David Hall (c. 1714-1772), born in Edinburgh,
emigrated to America shortly after 1740, became a partner of Benjamin
Franklin in 1748. He was printer of the _Pennsylvania Gazette_, one of
the few leading newspapers of the day, and one of the founders of the
St. Andrew's Society of Philadelphia. His son, William (died 1831),
who carried on the printing business, was one of the original members
of the "Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia," afterwards known as
"The First City Troop," and served in the Continental Army during the
Revolutionary War. Robert Aitken (1734-1802), born in Dalkeith,
Scotland, printer and publisher in Philadelphia in 1769, was publisher
of the _Pennsylvania Magazine_ from January 1775 to June 1776, the
first magazine in Philadelphia containing illustrations, most of which
were engraved by Aitken himself. He also published, at his own
expense, in 1782, the first English Bible printed in America. Major
Andrew Brown (c. 1744-1797), born in the north of Ireland of Scottish
parents, was publisher of the _Federal Gazette_, later (1793) changed
to _Philadelphia Gazette_. He is credited with being the first
newspaper man to employ a reporter for the debates in Congress. It may
here be mentioned that the publisher of the first directory of
Philadelphia and its suburbs (1782), was a Scot, Captain John
Macpherson (1726-92). James Adams, Delaware's first printer (1761),
was an Ulster Scot who learned the art of printing in Londonderry and
founded the _Wilmington Courant_ in 1762. Col. Eleazer Oswald
(1755-1795), of Scottish origin, though born in England, rendered
brilliant service on the side of the colonies during the Revolution.
In 1779 he became associated with William Goddard in the _Maryland
Journal_, the first newspaper printed in Baltimore. Later removing to
Philadelphia he issued the first number of the _Independent Gazetteer,
or the Chronicle of Freedom_, April 13, 1782, and at the same time he
also conducted in New York _The Independent Gazetteer, or New York
Journal_ (1782-87). The first daily paper published in Baltimore
(1791) was by David Graham. Alexander Purdie, a native of Scotland,
was editor of the _Virginia Gazette_ from March 1766 to December 1774.
Shortly after this date he started a Gazette of his own, and in the
issue of his paper for June 7, 1776, he printed the heraldic device of
a shield, on which is a rattlesnake coiled, with supporters, dexter, a
bear collared and chained, sinister, a stag. The crest is a woman's
head crowned and the motto: _Don't tread on me_. Adam Boyd
(1738-1803), colonial printer and preacher, purchased the printing
outfit of another Scot, Andrew Stuart, who had set up the first
printing press in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1763. In 1769 (Oct.
13) Boyd issued the first number of the _Cape Fear Mercury_, and
continued it till 1776. James Johnston, born in Scotland, was the
first to establish a printing press in Georgia (1762) and in April,
1763, began publication of _The Georgia Gazette_, which was published
by him for twenty-seven years. His successor (1793) was another Scot,
Alexander M'Millan, "Printer to the State." Robert Wells (1728-94),
born in Scotland, was a publisher and bookseller in South Carolina for
many years, and published the _South Carolina and American General
Gazette_. John Wells, Florida's first printer (1784), born in
Charleston, served his apprenticeship at Donaldson's printing house in
Edinburgh. Matthew Duncan, son of Major Joseph Duncan, of Scottish
ancestry, introduced printing into Illinois in 1809, and published the
first newspaper there. Major Nathaniel McLean, brother of John McLean,
one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, was one
of the first publishers in Minnesota (1849, the same year in which
printing was introduced into the state). The township of McLean,
Ramsey county, was named in honor of him. There is mention of a
printing press being set up in Michigan in 1785 by Alexander and
William Macomb, but nothing further is known of it. The first book
printed in Montana was in 1864, and in August of the same year John
Buchanan founded the _Montana Post_ at Virginia City. John Dunlap
(1747-1812), an Ulster Scot born in Strabane, was Congressional
Printer and first printed the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Ritchie (1778-1854), born of Scottish parentage. He wielded a
powerful influence for good in both the national and state politics of
Virginia, and his funeral was attended by nearly all the distinguished
men of the times, including the President. Ritchie County, West
Virginia, was named in his honor. Francis Preston Blair (1791-1876),
political writer, negotiator of peace conference at Hampton Roads in
1864, and editor of the Washington _Globe_, was a descendant of
Commissary Blair of Virginia. James Gordon Bennett (1795-1872), born
near Keith, Banffshire, pioneer of modern American journalism and
founder of the New York _Herald_, a newspaper which has long wielded a
great influence on political affairs. Horace Greeley (1811-72),
founder of the New York _Tribune_, unsuccessful candidate for the
Presidency in 1872, anti-slavery leader, and author of "The American
Conflict" (1864-66), was of Ulster Scot descent. Of the same origin
was Joseph Medill (1823-99), proprietor of the Chicago _Tribune_
(1874); and Robert Bonner (1824-99), founder of the New York _Ledger_
(1851), was born in Londonderry of Ulster Scot origin. James Thompson
Callender (d. 1806), a political exile from Scotland, a controversial
writer of great power, a severe critic of the administration of John
Adams, founded the _Richmond Recorder_, predecessor of the _Richmond
Enquirer_. John Swinton (1829-1901), born in Haddingtonshire, was
editorial writer for the New York _Times_ (1860-70), and _Sun_
(1875-83, 1893-97). He took an active interest in social and
industrial questions and was Progressive Labor Party's candidate for
State Senator in 1887. James Redpath (1833-91), journalist and author,
born in Berwick-on-Tweed, was prominently identified with the
abolition movement, was organizer of the school system of South
Carolina, founder of the Boston Lyceum Bureau, war correspondent for
Northern newspapers during the Civil War, and author of several
histories and biographical works. William Andrew Ure (b. 1839), of
Scottish parentage, by his energy made the Newark, New Jersey, _Sunday
Call_, one of the leading newspapers in the state. Whitelaw Reid is
noted under Ambassadors. St. Clair McKelway (b. 1845), who became
Regent and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the State of New York,
was of Scots parentage. Andrew McLean, born in Renton, Dumbartonshire,
in 1848, is editor-in-chief of the _Brooklyn Citizen_, which under his
guidance has become an influential paper. Washington McLean and his
son, John R. McLean, established one of the greatest newspapers in the
Middle West, the _Cincinnati Enquirer_. David Alexander Munro
(1848-1910), a native of Maryburgh, Ross-shire, educated at Edinburgh
University, editor for many years of the _North American Review_. John
Foord, born in Perthshire, came to the U.S. in 1869; became editorial
writer on the _New York Times_ and later editor-in-chief; after 1883,
editor and publisher of the _Brooklyn Union_; editor of _Harper's
Weekly_; leader writer on _Journal of Commerce_, and editor of
_Asia_. Other journalists who may be mentioned are William Cauldwell
(b. 1824) of New York, of Scottish parentage on both sides; George
Dawson (1813-83) of Albany, born in Falkirk, Scotland; William Wiston
Seaton (1785-1866) of Washington, D.C., a Regent of the Smithsonian
Institution; and George Horace Lorimer (b. 1867), journalist and
author of "Letters from a Self-made Merchant to His Son" (1902), etc.
John J. McElhone (1832-90), famous as a stenographer and chief
Official Reporter of the House of Representatives, was of Scottish
ancestry.
Thomas Dobson, publisher of the first American edition of the
_Encyclopaedia Britannica_ (1791), was a Scot who gave a great impulse
to printing in the United States. Robert Carter (1807-89), publisher
and founder of the house of Robert Carter and Brothers, so long and
honorably known in New York city, was born in Earlston, Berwickshire.
Henry Ivison (1808-84), born in Glasgow, became a prominent publisher
in New York. His son, David Brinkerhoff Ivison, born in 1835, was also
a prominent publisher and founder of the American Book Company. John
Wilson (1802-68), born in Glasgow, was founder of the famous printing
firm of John Wilson and Son of Cambridge, Massachusetts, now Harvard
University Press. George Munro (1825-96), publisher of the _Seaside
Library, Fireside Companion_, etc., was of Scottish descent. In the
course of his life he gave away half a million dollars for educational
purposes. Whatever may be thought of his appropriating the works of
British authors without compensation it cannot be denied that he did a
great deal to raise the literary taste among the poorer classes in
this country. George William Quids (1829-94), publisher and proprietor
of the _Philadelphia Public Ledger_, was of Scottish descent. Robert
Clarke (1829-99), founded of the great Cincinnati publishing house of
Robert Clarke and Co., was born in the town of Annan in Dumfriesshire.
Norman Leslie Munro (1842-94), publisher of the _Family Story Paper_
and founder of Munro's Publishing House, was born in Nova Scotia of
Scottish ancestry.
John Baine, born in St. Andrews, in partnership with his grandson,
established the first type-foundry in Philadelphia in 1787. Their firm
cast the types for a portion of the American edition of the
_Encyclopaedia Britannica_, reprinted in Philadelphia in 1791.
Archibald Binny, (1763-1838), born in Portobello, near Edinburgh, and
James Ronaldson (d. 1841), also born in Scotland, succeeded to and
carried on the business established by Baine. In 1797 they cast the
first $ sign used in this country. The quality and art of their
product was in no wise inferior to the European and the sale of
foreign made types ceased shortly after they established their
business. Their foundry kept pace with the growth of the country and
in the seventies of last century became the best and most extensive
letter-foundry in the world. Archibald Binny loaned the United States
Government the sum of 50,000 dollars for use in the war of 1812-14.
Ronaldson was first president of the Franklin Institute in
Philadelphia (1824-41), an institution in which he took a great
interest, and in 1831 presented to Philadelphia the beautiful cemetery
bearing his name. He was described as "an upright, frugal and honest
man, and a lover of his adopted country." George Bruce (1781-1866),
born in Edinburgh, along with his brother David introduced the art of
stereotyping, the secret of which David secured in Edinburgh. In 1816
they purchased a foundry for type making and stereotyping, and George
Bruce in his seventy-eighth year of age produced type which has rarely
been excelled for beauty of design and neatness of finish. "He did
much toward facilitating American printing and towards making it a
fine art, inventing, with the assistance of his nephew, David Bruce,
Jr., a successful type-casting machine which has come into general
use." Thomas Mackellar (1812-1899), printer and poet, also one of the
leading type founders, was of Scottish parentage. William Vincent
McKean, born in 1820 of Ulster Scot descent, was another distinguished
type-founder and editor-in-chief of the _Philadelphia Public Ledger_
for many years. Another individual who may be included under this head
is Adam Ramage who was born in Scotland and died at an advanced age in
Philadelphia in 1850. He was distinguished as a manufacturer of
printing presses in the beginning of last century, and patented the
"Ramage" press in 1818.
SOME PROMINENT SCOTS IN NEW YORK CITY
Many names mentioned in other sections apply equally to New York city
but for lack of space they are not here again referred to. David
Jamison, one of the early Colonial lawyers in New York, was born in
Scotland. In 1707 he defended Francis Makemie, the Presbyterian
clergyman, when he was arrested for preaching in the city without a
license, and in 1710 he became Chief Justice of New Jersey. James
Graham (died c. 1700), Recorder of the city, was also a native of
Scotland. John Watts (1749-1836), of Scots parentage, was the last
Royal Recorder of the city, Speaker of the New York Assembly, Member
of Congress, 1793-96, and founder of the Leake and Watts Orphan
Asylum. Archibald Gracie, born in Dumfries, emigrated to America about
1778. Through his business enterprise he largely developed the
commercial importance of the port of New York. He was also founder of
the first Savings Bank in America, founder of the Lying-in Hospital of
the Cedar Street Presbyterian Church, President of the Chamber of
Commerce for twenty years, etc. Cadwallader David Golden (1769-1834),
grandson of Cadwallader Colden, was Mayor of the city from 1818 to
1821, and made an enviable record in that office. James Lenox
(1800-80), merchant, philanthropist, bibliophile, and founder of the
Lenox Library, now incorporated in the New York Public Library, was
one of the most useful citizens New York ever possessed. His public
benefactions were numerous, but only the largest were made public.
Among these were the Lenox Library, formerly at Fifth Avenue and
Seventieth Street; the Presbyterian Hospital, and liberal endowments
to Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary. Alexander
Turney Stewart (1803-76), merchant and philanthropist, born in Ireland
of Scots parents, established the great dry goods business now owned
by John Wanamaker. He was nominated as Secretary of the Treasury
(1869) but was not confirmed. Hugh Maxwell (1787-1873), born in
Paisley, was Assistant Junior Advocate General in 1814, District
Attorney for the city from 1819 to 1829, and Collector of the Port
(1849-52). Robert L. Stuart (1806-82) and his brother Alexander
(1810-79), sugar refiners, both gave large sums, estimated at over two
million dollars, to many charities, and the library, pictures, and
mineral and shell collections of the former are preserved in a
separate room of the New York Public Library. Hugh Auchincloss
(1817-90) and John Auchincloss, his brother, sons of Hugh Auchincloss
of Paisley, were prominent merchants in the city. Robert Lenox Kennedy
(b. 1822), banker and public spirited citizen, grandson of a Scot, was
President of the Trustees of the New York Public Library, an
institution largely Scottish in its foundation and endowment. James
Gibb, born in Scotland in 1829, a successful merchant, was President
of Brooklyn Park Commission. James Cruikshank (b. 1831), of Scottish
descent, was noted for his activity in furthering education in
Brooklyn. Abram Stevens Hewitt (1822-1903), of Scottish parentage, was
Member of Congress from New York (1875-79, 1881-86), and Mayor of the
city (1887-88). John Stewart Kennedy (1830-1909), financier and
philanthropist, born at Blantyre, near Glasgow, gave one million
dollars to the Presbyterian Hospital as his golden wedding anniversary
gift, five hundred thousand dollars to Columbia University, besides
innumerable gifts to other institutions. His will left over
sixty-seven million dollars, nearly half of it for charitable
purposes. Alexander Ector Orr (1831-1914), President of New York Rapid
Transit Commission, Vice-President of many financial institutions, was
of Ulster Scot descent. Thomas Fitchie (1834-1905), of Scottish
parentage, was an earnest worker for purity in civil life in Brooklyn.
Charles A. Lamont (1835-1904), son of Neil Lamont from Scotland, was
one of the original members of the Republican Party and of the Union
League prominent in city affairs. He was the originator of the Ramapo
scheme of water supply for the city. Robert Maclay (b. 1836), of
Scottish parentage, was President of the Knickerbocker Ice Company
(1875), Commissioner of Education, Rapid Transit Commissioner, etc.
Dr. Albert Prescott Marble (1836-1906), a recognized leader in
educational matters, President of the Board of Superintendents of the
New York Department of Education, was a descendant of one of the Scots
settlers of Maine. Robert Macy Galloway (b. 1837), merchant and
banker, had a considerable part in developing the elevated railroads
of the city. Eugene Gilbert Blackford (1839-1904), merchant and
ichthyologist, of Scottish descent, "did more to advance the interests
of fish culture in this country than any other man." He wrote much on
the subject and to his efforts was due the creation of the Aquarium at
the Battery. Alexander Taylor, born in Leith, Scotland, in 1821, was
founder of the firm of Alexander Taylor's Sons. Walter Scott, managing
Director of Butler Brothers, born in Canada, of Scottish parentage, is
widely known as a liberal promoter of education, art, athletics, and
patriotism.
SCOTTISH SOCIETIES IN THE UNITED STATES
That the Scots in America have not been solely devoted to business and
the promotion of their own selfish welfare is evidenced by the
remarkable growth of their numerous Societies based upon the extension
of fellowship among Scots in the New World and for the collection and
distribution of charitable funds among the poor and needy of their
countrymen. The oldest of these Societies, the Scots' Charitable
Society of Boston, was founded January 6, 1657, with twenty-seven
members. It was followed by the St. Andrew's Club of Charleston, S.C.
(the first to bear the name of St. Andrew), 1729; the St. Andrew's
Society of Philadelphia, December 7, 1749; the St. Andrew's Society of
Savannah, Ga., 1750; the St. Andrew's Society of the Province,
afterward of the State of New York, November 19, 1756; and the St.
Andrew's Society of Albany, N.Y., November 10, 1803; until at the
present time, there is no city of any size or importance in the
country that does not have its St. Andrew's Society, or Burns or
Caledonian Club, which serves to keep alive the memories of the
home-land, to instil patriotism toward the adopted country, and to aid
the distressed among their kinsfolk. There are now more than one
thousand of these Societies in America, including the Order of
Scottish Clans (organized, 1878) a successful fraternal, patriotic and
beneficial order, with more than one hundred separate clans, and the
Daughters of Scotia, a rapidly growing order for women of Scottish
blood, organized in 1898.
CONCLUSION
"It is the knowledge that Scotsmen have done their share in building
up the great Republic that makes them proud of its progress and
inspires them to add to its glories and advantages in every way.
Scotsmen, as a nationality, are everywhere spoken of as good and loyal
citizens, while Americans who can trace a family residence of a
century in the country are proud if they can count among their
ancestors some one who hailed from the land of Burns, and it is a
knowledge of all this, in turn, that makes the American Scot of to-day
proud of his country's record and his citizenship and impels him to be
as devoted to the new land as it was possible for him to have been to
the old had he remained in it. In America, the old traditions, the old
blue flag with its white cross, the old Doric, are not forgotten, but
are nourished, and preserved, and honored, and spoken by Scotsmen on
every side with the kindliest sentiments on the part of those to whom
they are alien. Americans know and acknowledge that the traditions and
flag and homely speech have long been conserved to the development of
that civil and religious liberty on which the great confederation of
sovereign republican States has been founded. In the United States,
Sir Walter Scott has more readers and quite as enthusiastic admirers
as in Scotland, and if Americans were asked which of the world's poets
came nearest to their hearts, the answer would undoubtedly be--Robert
Burns."
LIST OF PRINCIPAL AUTHORITIES REFERRED TO