John Dewar, 1st Baron Forteviot facts for kids
John Alexander Dewar, 1st Baron Forteviot (born June 6, 1856 – died November 23, 1929) was an important Scottish businessman and politician. He was the older son of the person who started the famous Dewar's Scotch Whisky company. John Dewar also served as a Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) in the UK.
He is buried with his family in Aberdalgie, a place just west of Perth in Scotland. This area is close to his family's home, Dupplin Castle.
John Dewar's Family Life
John Dewar Jr. was the son of John Dewar, Sr. and Jane Gow. He had a younger brother named Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar.
John Dewar married Elsie Johann (Joan) Tod in 1884. She was the fourth daughter of Lord Forteviot of Dupplin. Sadly, Elsie passed away in 1899. In 1905, John married Margaret Elizabeth Holland.
John had several children. With Elsie Johann Tod, he had:
- John Dewar, 2nd Baron Forteviot (born 1885 – died 1947)
- Hon. Agnes Roger Dewar (born 1888 – died 1919)
- Hon. Jane Gow Dewar (born 1890 – died 1969)
- Hon. Margaret Dorothy Dewar (born 1891 – died 1967)
- Hon. Elsie Joan Tod Dewar (born 1892 – died 1917)
- Hon. Janet Bertha Dewar (born 1895 – died 1979)
With Margaret Elizabeth Holland, he had:
- Henry Evelyn Alexander Dewar, 3rd Baron Forteviot (born 1906 – died 1993)
- Hon. Irene Margaretta Dewar (born 1908)
Lord Forteviot passed away in November 1929 when he was 73 years old. His son, John, from his first marriage, took over his titles.
His Career and Public Service
John Dewar was a very successful businessman. He was the chairman of the distilling company John Dewar and Sons. He was also a director for other large companies, including Buchanan-Dewar Ltd and Distillers Company Ltd.
Beyond business, he was active in politics. He represented Inverness-shire in the House of Commons from 1900 to 1917. This meant he was a Member of Parliament, helping to make laws for the country. He was also chosen twice to be the Lord Provost of Perth. A Lord Provost is like a mayor for a city in Scotland.
In 1907, he received a special honor and was made a Baronet. This is a title of honor that can be passed down in a family. In 1917, he received an even higher honor and was made a Baron. This meant he became Baron Forteviot, of Dupplin in the County of Perth. A Baron is a member of the peerage, which is a group of people with special titles.
The Dewar Commission and Healthcare
In 1912, John Dewar led an important group called the Dewar Commission. This group looked into how healthcare was provided in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. They wanted to see if people in these remote areas were getting the medical care they needed.
The Commission gathered information by talking to people and reading written reports from all over the North of Scotland. They started their work in Edinburgh and then traveled to places like Inverness. The "Dewar Report" was finished in 1913. This report was very important because it led to the creation of the Highlands and Islands Medical Service. This service helped bring better healthcare to people living in distant parts of Scotland.
