Old Photograph Kilmaron Castle Scotland

Old photograph of Kilmaron Castle near Cupar, Fife, Scotland. This Scottish castle was built around 1820 to the designs of James Gillespie Graham, born 1776, died 1855, for the Dundee linen manufacturer Sir David Baxter, born 1793, died 1872. Baxter was the second son of William Baxter, of Balgavies, Angus, and was born in Dundee on 15 February 1793. He was educated at one of the local schools. In 1833 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of R. Montgomerie, of Barrahill, Ayrshire. He became partner in the linen manufacturing firm of Baxter brothers, which included his father and his two younger brothers. In 1828 an attempt had been made by him to introduce power-loom weaving, but after a short trial it was abandoned until 1836, when its revival was followed by complete and extraordinary success. Through the mechanical skill of his partner in perfecting the machinery, and the business capacity and tact of David Baxter, the firm speedily became one of the largest manufacturing houses in the world; and to its remarkable success may be in a large degree ascribed the position which Dundee attained as the chief seat of the linen manufacture in Britain in the nineteenth century.



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