Board of Manufactures facts for kids
The Board of Trustees for Fisheries, Manufactures and Improvements in Scotland was an important group that helped shape Scotland's economy. This was during a time of big changes called the Enlightenment and the industrial revolution. The Board wanted Scotland's industries to work well with England's, not against them. For example, since England made a lot of wool products, Scotland focused on linen.
The Board was created in 1727. Its main goal was to give out money (called grants) to help the fishing and manufacturing industries grow.
Later, around 1823, the rules for the linen industry changed. So, the Board started to focus more on decorative arts and improving education in fine arts. They had already set up the Trustees Drawing Academy of Edinburgh in 1760 to help improve industrial design. In 1906, the Board's remaining jobs were given to the National Galleries of Scotland.
Scotland's Linen Industry
In the 1700s, the linen industry was Scotland's most important business. It also helped other industries like cotton, jute, and wool grow later on.
The Board of Trustees helped and gave money to the linen industry. This allowed Scottish linen to compete with products from other countries, like Germany. Business owners became very good at making and selling linen. They especially grew their sales in the American colonies.
The British Linen Company, started in 1746, was the biggest linen company in Scotland during the 1700s. It sent linen to England and America. This company could also raise money by issuing special notes or bonds. These notes started to work like bank notes. Because of this, the company slowly began lending money to other linen makers. By the early 1770s, banking became its main business.
In 1906, the company changed its name to the British Linen Bank. It was one of Scotland's top banks until the Bank of Scotland bought it in 1969. It joined other well-known Scottish banks like the Bank of Scotland (started in Edinburgh in 1695) and the Royal Bank of Scotland (started in Edinburgh in 1727).
By the end of the 1700s, Scotland had a very strong banking system. There were over 400 bank branches, which meant one bank for every 7,000 people. This was twice as many as in England! Scottish banks also had fewer rules than English banks. Many historians believe that this flexible and active banking system helped Scotland's economy grow quickly in the 1800s.
Important People on the Board
Many important people served as trustees on the Board. They helped guide its work and make decisions about Scotland's industries and arts. Some of these individuals included:
- Robert Arbuthnot of Haddo
- Sir William Arbuthnot, 1st Baronet
- Sir George Clerk-Maxwell
- Andrew Fletcher, Lord Milton
- Sir Thomas Dick Lauder
- James Veitch, Lord Elliock
- Schomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian
- James Robertson, Baron Robertson
- Sir Robert Murdoch Smith
- Sir John Cowan, 1st Baronet
- Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, Baron Carmichael
- David Scott-Moncrieff
- Sidney Buller-Fullerton-Elphinstone, 16th Lord Elphinstone
- Sir Ludovic Grant, 11th Baronet
See also
