Robert Wylie Hill facts for kids

Robert Wylie Hill (born 1851, died 1939) was a Scottish businessman. He was an importer and a retailer. He is famous for starting the R. Wylie Hill & Co. department store in Glasgow, Scotland. He also played a part in selling one of the world's most famous stamps!

Selling a Famous Stamp

In the mid-1870s, Robert Wylie Hill traveled to South America. He was on a trip to collect interesting and exotic birds. During this time, he likely met Neil Ross McKinnon. McKinnon was from British Guiana and had Scottish roots.

Later, McKinnon trusted Wylie Hill with a very special task. He asked Wylie Hill to sell his valuable collection of postage stamps in Britain. This collection included the incredibly rare and famous British Guiana 1c magenta stamp. This stamp is known as one of the most valuable stamps in the world.

R. Wylie Hill & Co. Department Store

Robert Wylie Hill came from a family well-known in retail. His grandfather, Robert, and his great-uncle, William Lochhead, were partners in a furniture store in Glasgow called Wylie & Lochead.

Robert Wylie Hill first worked at a Glasgow company called Stewart & Hill. In 1879, he started his own business, R. Wylie Hill & Co. At first, it was a company that helped other businesses buy and sell goods.

In 1880, he opened a shop called American & Continental Stores. This store on Argyll Street sold many different goods imported from other countries. By 1883, he opened the main R. Wylie Hill & Co. department store. It was located at 20-24 Buchanan Street, and he ran it with his brother.

Sadly, in November 1888, the building caught fire and burned down. But it was quickly rebuilt! Famous architects like John Hutchinson designed the new building. Some parts were even designed by the well-known architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The building was damaged by fire again in November 1903.

Robert Wylie Hill retired from the business in 1925. The company continued to grow after he left. In 1947, R. Wylie Hill & Co. bought another Glasgow department store called Bow's Emporium. They also expanded their Buchanan Street store in 1954. They bought the neighboring Cranston Tea Rooms to make their store even bigger.

In 1973, a large newsagent company called John Menzies bought R. Wylie Hill & Co. The department store then closed its doors in 1974. The building itself is considered important. It was listed as a Category B building by Historic Environment Scotland in 1970. This means it is a building of special architectural or historic interest.

Personal Life

Robert Wylie Hill was married to Isabella Muir Rowat. Isabella was the cousin of a famous embroidery designer named Jessie Newbery.

In 1894, Wylie Hill bought a large piece of land. It was called the Balthayock Estate, near Perth, Scotland. It was a huge estate, covering 1,700 acres. On his estate, he raised special shorthorn cattle. These cattle were so good that they won many prizes!