William Collins (Lord Provost)
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Sir William Collins (1817–1895) was a Scottish publisher, prominent in the temperance movement who served as Glasgow's Lord Provost between 1877 and 1880.
He was the first fully abstaining Lord Provost of Glasgow and gained the nickname Water Willie.[1]
Life[]
He was born in Glasgow on 12 October 1817.
In 1841 the family firm William Collins, Sons began specialising in printing bibles. The family then lived at 113 Montrose Street.[2]
At the Disruption of 1843 he left the established Church of Scotland and joined the Free Church of Scotland.
He joined his father, William Collins, printing company in 1848 and helped expand the business into publishing. In 1868, his two sons became partners in the business and it was renamed William Collins, Sons & Co.
Sir William Collins was also politically active, campaigning for the temperance cause throughout his life. He was elected to the Town Council as a Liberal in 1868, became a magistrate in 1873, and was Lord Provost from 1877 to 1880. He helped to form the Glasgow Liberal Association in 1878 and became involved in the Glasgow School Board (1888–1894).
In 1877 he was elected Lord Provost of Glasgow in place of Sir James Bain. In recognition of his public service as Lord Provost, in 1880 he was knighted by Queen Victoria. He was succeeded in turn as Lord Provost by John Ure. At this time Collins was living at 3 Park Terrace East, a large townhouse overlooking Kelvingrove Park.[3]
In 1881 supporters of the temperance movement erected a fountain in his name, in Glasgow Green.
- "Erected by temperance reformers in recognition of valuable services rendered to the temperance cause by Sir William Collins, Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow 1877-1880. 29 October 1881."
He died on 20 February 1895. He is buried in the Glasgow Necropolis. The grave lies on the eastern edge of the north section of the upper plateau.
Family[]
He was married to Annabella Glen (1822–1862). His second wife, Helen Jamieson died in 1893.[4]
His eldest son William (1845–1906) was also in the company.
References[]
- ^ https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSA00020
- ^ Glasgow Post Office Directory 1840
- ^ Glasgow Post Office Directory 1880
- ^ Collins grave, Glasgow Necropolis
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- 1817 births
- 1895 deaths
- Lord Provosts of Glasgow
- Scottish book publishers (people)
- Scottish Liberal Party politicians
- Scottish temperance activists
- 19th-century British politicians
- 19th-century Scottish businesspeople
- Scottish printers
- Scottish knights
- Glasgow Green
- Scottish business biography stubs
- Scottish Provost stubs