Andrew Buchanan of Drumpellier
Andrew Buchanan of Drumpellier | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1691-01-29 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 1759-12-20 |
| Occupation(s) | Tobacco trader, merchant, banker, landowner |
| Known for | Leading Glasgow "Tobacco Lord", Lord Provost of Glasgow (1740–1742), founder of Old Ship Bank |
Andrew Buchanan of Drumpellier (29 January 1691 – 20 December 1759) was a distinguished Scottish tobacco trader and recognized as one of Glasgow's leading "Tobacco Lords". He held the office of Lord Provost of Glasgow between 1740 and 1742.[1] The well-known Buchanan Street in Glasgow bears his name.
Background and early life
Andrew Buchanan was born on 29 January 1691 as the second son to George Buchanan, who worked as a maltster, and Mary Maxwell, daughter of Gabriel Maxwell, a prominent merchant in Glasgow. His father, once a Covenanter, hailed from the Buchanan clan.[2]
During his younger years, he shared accommodation with Reverend Robert Carrick, whose son Robert Carrick later became a prosperous banker. This Robert Carrick eventually left his wealth to Buchanan’s nephew, David Buchanan, prompting the family to adopt the combined surname Carrick-Buchanan in appreciation.[3]
Life
In 1725, together with his brothers Neil and Archibald, Buchanan established the Buchanan Society, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting apprentices and widows connected to the Buchanan family. This society continues its operations to this day.[4]
Buchanan was among the pioneering Scots who owned tobacco plantations in Virginia,[5] reportedly controlling up to 300 enslaved individuals.[6]
By 1735, he had purchased the Drumpellier estate and constructed Drumpellier House between 1736 and 1739, later expanding the property. In 1737, he also acquired the Auchentorlie estate.[7]
He was appointed dean of guild in 1728 and subsequently elected lord provost in 1740. During the Jacobite rebellion, Buchanan participated in a commission that successfully negotiated lowering a £15,000 loan demand down to £5,500. His backing of government-imposed levies caused resentment among Jacobite supporters; notably, in 1745 he declined to pay a £500 personal tax imposed by Prince Charles Edward Stuart despite threats against his residence.[8]
In 1750, he played a pivotal role in founding the Old Ship Bank, which was Glasgow’s first locally established bank.[9]
Andrew Buchanan Bros. and Co.
Andrew Buchanan strategically invested early in the American tobacco market following the 1707 Union, acquiring land and plantations in Virginia. By the 1720s, he and his brothers Neil and Archibald operated under Andrew Buchanan, Bros. & Co., becoming by 1730 Glasgow’s largest tobacco importers, managing over 500,000 lbs annually. In 1735 their fleet included five vessels such as the Glasgow and Virginia Merchant. Neil exited the partnership in 1737, after which the company was renamed Andrew and Archibald Buchanan & Co. Archibald withdrew in 1749 to establish a new firm with John Bowman; meanwhile, the original enterprise continued as Andrew Buchanan, Son & Co., with their brother George joining as partner.
Other business interests
Andrew expanded his ventures into sugar refining on King Street in Glasgow as well as linen manufacturing, rope production, and sailcloth works. He co-established Glasgow’s Ship Bank in 1749 and was instrumental in recruiting Robert Carrick as a clerk, nurturing talent within his commercial circle.
Drumpellier estate
In 1735, Andrew Buchanan acquired the Drumpellier estate and subsequently built the earliest portion of Drumpellier House in 1736. The residence was expanded during the mid-1700s, with additional enhancements made in the 1840s and 1850s.
In 1919, Lt Col Carrick Buchanan gifted Drumpellier House and its surrounding lands to the town of Coatbridge. During the 1920s and 1930s, the estate became a favored leisure destination for residents of Glasgow before the house was ultimately demolished in the 1960s. Presently, the area is maintained as Drumpellier Country Park, encompassing approximately 500 acres (2.0 km2) of natural lochs, heath, woodland, and grasslands.
Virginia Street and Mansion
Andrew Buchanan initially purchased property at Long Croft in Glasgow in 1719, followed by acquisitions of two adjacent plots in 1732 and 1740. These were developed into Virginia Street, featuring a series of newly constructed villas. He also planned an impressive residence, Virginia Mansion, which was completed after his death by his son George Buchanan of Mount Vernon (1728–1762).
In 1770, Alexander Speirs of Elderslie—Buchanan’s brother-in-law and a tobacco merchant—bought the mansion. The building was noted for its spaciousness and balanced seven-bay front, taking architectural cues from the nearby Shawfield Mansion. Virginia Mansion once stood where today's Corinthian on Ingram Street is located. Although Virginia Street remains part of the Merchant City, none of its original houses have survived.
Old Ship Bank
The Old Ship Bank was established in 1750 by Andrew Buchanan of Drumpellier alongside other "Virginia Dons," marking Glasgow's first independent banking institution. Robert Carrick joined as an apprentice banker in 1752 through family ties with Buchanan and rose to become manager and partner by 1775 under Moores Carrick & Company.
At his death in 1821, Carrick’s personal wealth surpassed £1 million—three times greater than the bank’s total assets—and this fortune was largely inherited by David Buchanan (1760–1827), nephew of Andrew Buchanan. To commemorate this legacy, David adopted the surname Carrick-Buchanan.
Family
Andrew Buchanan was married twice; his first marriage to Marion Montgomery in 1723 produced two sons—James Buchanan of Drumpellier (1726–1786) and George Buchanan of Mount Vernon (1728–1762)—along with four daughters. Both sons participated actively in the Virginia tobacco trade through their respective enterprises.
James inherited his father’s plantations and estates but suffered financial collapse following the American Revolution in 1777, leading him to sell most assets to his cousin Andrew Stirling of William Stirling & Sons. The estate was later repurchased in 1808 by James’ nephew David Buchanan (who later took the name Carrick-Buchanan). George died at age 34; his portrait is displayed at Drumpellier House alongside that of his father. James also held office as Lord Provost of Glasgow during two terms: from 1768 to 1770 and again from 1774 to 1776.
Following Marion’s death in 1743, Andrew remarried in 1744 to Elizabeth Binning, daughter of Charles Binning, an Edinburgh advocate. Their daughter Mary married philosopher William Stirling; their son John Stirling acquired Tullichewan Castle in 1792.
- ↑ Provosts of Glasgow
- ↑ Dictionary of National Biography
- ↑ Mount Vernon House – East End Glasgow History
- ↑ Buchanan Society – Home
- ↑ View of the City of Glasgow
- ↑ City centre Apple store drops 'Buchanan' name due to slavery connections
- ↑ Old Country Houses of the Old Glasgow Gentry
- ↑ Memorabilia; Scots Magazine viii 30; Modern Scots
- ↑ TheGlasgowStory: The Old Ship Bank