Garnet Wilson facts for kids

Garnet Wilson (1885-1975) was an important Scottish businessman and politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party. He also served as the Lord Provost of Dundee. This is like being the mayor of the city. Many people saw him as a very important person in Dundee during the middle of the 1900s.

Life and Career

Early Life and Family Business

Garnet Wilson was born in Cupar, Fife, in 1885. His father, Gavin Laurie Wilson, started a department store. It was called G.L. Wilson's Department Store. The store first opened in Cupar. Later, in 1894, it moved to Dundee. People in Dundee often called it 'the Corner'.

Garnet went to school at Bell Baxter High School. He also attended Newport Public School. For one year, he studied at the High School of Dundee. After school, he joined his father's business. His brother John also worked there. The department store was very popular in Dundee. It was especially famous for its Christmas grotto. Garnet Wilson was known for giving children an extra penny when they visited the grotto.

Start in Politics

Garnet Wilson was a member of the Liberal Party. In 1922, he supported a Liberal candidate named R. R. Pilkington. This was for an election in Dundee. Pilkington was running against Winston Churchill. However, all the candidates he supported lost that election.

Wilson's work in local government began in 1919. He served on the council for Newport-on-Tay until 1929. In 1919, he was also elected to the Dundee Education Authority. He worked there until 1930. He was in charge of its finances.

Serving Dundee

In 1929, Wilson was elected to the Dundee Town Council. He lost his seat in 1935. But he was re-elected in 1937. He became the leader of the council's education committee. He was known across Scotland for his work in this role.

In 1940, he became the Lord Provost of Dundee. He held this important position until 1946. It was unusual for him to be chosen. This was because he had not been a magistrate or treasurer before. He was a popular leader during World War II. He received a special honour in 1944. He was knighted for his service to Dundee.

One of his big achievements was helping the N.C.R. choose Dundee. In 1945, they made Dundee their main base in the United Kingdom. He also helped to create an airport for the city.

Later Public Roles

In 1952, Wilson became the chairman of the Glenrothes Development Corporation. At the same time, he was also a leader in Scottish education. He was part of the Scottish Advisory Council on Education. He was also a member of the B.B.C.'s Scottish Advisory Council. He retired from the Glenrothes role in 1960.

Wilson was also involved with University College, Dundee. He was a member of its College Council. He was also its last president. This showed his strong interest in education. He believed the college should stay connected to the University of St Andrews.

In 1970, he officially opened Craigie High School. A street leading to the school, Garnet Terrace, was named after him. Garnet Wilson passed away on September 18, 1975, at the age of 90.

Legacy

How He Is Remembered

Garnet Wilson's life and work are remembered in several ways. Many of his old papers and business records are kept. You can find them at the University of Dundee's Archive Services. The Dundee City Archives also have many items about Wilson.

There are also portraits of Garnet Wilson. One painting by David Shanks Ewart is in the Dundee Art Galleries and Museums Collection. The University of Dundee has another portrait of him. It shows him as the President of the University College, Dundee's College Council. This painting was done by Rodrigo Moynihan. He is also honored with a special plaque. This plaque is on a stone in the University of Dundee Botanic Garden.