Sir John Ritchie Findlay, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir John Ritchie Findlay (born January 13, 1866 – died April 13, 1930) was an important Scottish businessman, a kind person who gave a lot to charity, and a leader in his community. He owned the company that published a famous newspaper called The Scotsman. Later in his life, he became the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, which is like a special representative for the King or Queen in a certain area of Scotland.
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Early Life and School
John Ritchie Findlay was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the oldest son of J. Ritchie Findlay. His family had a strong connection to The Scotsman newspaper because his father's great-uncle had started it. When his father passed away in 1898, John took over the family business, becoming the main owner and publisher of The Scotsman and other newspapers.
He went to several schools, including Mr. Oliphant's School, Edinburgh Collegiate School, and then Harrow School. After that, he studied at Balliol College, Oxford, where he earned a special degree with high honors in both science and humanities. Later, Edinburgh University gave him an honorary degree, which is a special award for his achievements.
John Ritchie Findlay also raised special kinds of cows called Aberdeen Angus cattle on his family's land in Aberlour.
Community and Public Service
In 1898, John Ritchie Findlay became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This means he was recognized as a respected scholar and scientist.
He was also the leader of the Merchant Company of Edinburgh from 1913 to 1914. This was a group of important business people in Edinburgh. He helped with important groups like the Ancient Monuments Board and the Fine Art Commission for Scotland, which work to protect old buildings and promote art. He also had a large personal collection of scientific tools.
Sir John Ritchie Findlay passed away in Edinburgh. He was buried in Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh.
His Family
In 1901, John Ritchie Findlay married Harriet Jane. Her father was Sir Jonathan Backhouse. John and Harriet had three sons and two daughters. Their oldest son was Edmund Findlay.
What People Remembered About Him
Sir John Findlay was known as a fair and forward-thinking newspaper owner. He believed that newspapers had a duty to be responsible to the public. Even though his newspaper work was a big part of his life, he also spent a lot of time helping with public committees and groups. He was very interested in helping art and history, just like his father, who had given the Scottish National Portrait Gallery to the country.
Sir John was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Galleries of Scotland and also led the Edinburgh College of Art for a long time. His interest in old things led him to be the Vice-Chairman of the Scottish Ancient Monuments Board. He was also an early member of the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland. He helped Scottish education by being part of the Advisory Council to the Scottish Education Department. He also took on a big job as Chairman of the Scottish Advisory Committee on Rivers Pollution, working to keep rivers clean.
When World War I started, the government asked him to lead the Scottish National Housing Company. This company was in charge of building homes in Rosyth, near a new naval base. Because he did such a good job, he was later asked to form a company to build steel houses faster in Scotland. He was doing many of these important jobs at the same time, which was a lot of work. People admired him for his hard work and dedication. He was a quiet person who didn't look for attention, but many people knew him as an honest and trustworthy man whose advice they could always rely on. His wife, Lady Findlay, also supported his public work and was even the first woman to lead the Scottish Unionist Association.
Sir John was given a special honor called Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1917. In 1925, he was given the title of Baronet, which is a special hereditary title. After serving as a Deputy Lieutenant, he became the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire in 1928, which was the area where his family's estate, Aberlour, was located. He also received honorary titles from the Royal Scottish Academy and Edinburgh University.
