Towns > Glasgow > 1787 - Reprint of Jones's directory; or, Useful pocket companion for the year 1787

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JOHN GORDON OF AIKENHEAD,
A successful West India merchant, a leading partner in the great firm
of Stirling, Gordon, and Company, a high Tory, and first president of
the celebrated *' Pig Club." Mr. Gordon was a jolly-looking, well-
made man, of a lordly bearing; and, like the "General," he long
stuck to knee breeches and worsted stockings. He occupied a large
mansion and fine garden on the site of the Prince of Wales Buildings,
in Buchanan Street, where he surrounded himself with a circle of the
leading Tory gentlemen of the period, and dispensed a princely
hospitality. Mr. Gordon was emphatically a citizen of credit and
renown; and, after a long life of mercantile activity, political con-
sistency, and wide-spread benevolence, he died onthe_2nd December,
1828, universally lamented in spite of his political opinions.
ROBERT CARRICK OF BRACO
Was the son of Robert Carrick, minister of Houston, and entered
the counting-house of the "Ship Bank" at the age of fifteen, under
the auspices of Provost Buchanan of Dmmpellier. Step by step,
slowly but surely, Robin Carrick rose to be managing partner of the
concern, and one of the most important personages in the city of
Glasgow at the time. He was a short, dumpy man in his latter days,
with thin grey hair, tied into a pigtail behind, and with a keen,
scrutinizing expression of countenance. His every-day attire con-
sisted of a long blue coat hanging down to his heels, a striped
woollen waistcoat, knee breeches, white ribbed stockings, and a
pair of capacious shoes. He sat behind his desk on a high three-
legged stool, in the "sweating room," or manager's sancUun, where
he received his customers with a bland smile, even when refusing to
discount their paper. On these occasions the invariable saying was,
"It's not convenient;" and once uttered, it was never known to be
recalled. Mr. Carrick was elected Dean of Guild in 1803, and died
in 1821.
REV. JOHN M'LEOD^
Was minister of the Chapel of Ease in the latter part of the last
century, and was rather a notable sort of character. He is said
to have had a specific grace for every sort of dinner ; and when the
spread happened to be sumptuous, he usually began with " Bountiful
Jehovah!" Mr. M'Leod had an arch way of telling a story; and
when Dr. Chalmers came to Glasgow, and was in the heyday of his
popularity, he remarked: "Weel, I mind mysel' when I cam first
to the Chapel o' Ease, folk were paying tippence a piece for a seat^
on the poopit stairs — every dog has its day !"
JAMES FINDLAY,
A leading Glasgow merchant, father of Kirkman, and grandfather