Old photograph of the school in Oldhamstocks, East Lothian, Scotland. John Broadwood, born 6 October 1732, died 17 July 1812, was the Scottish founder of the piano manufacturer Broadwood and Sons. He was at St Helens, Cockburnspath in Berwickshire, and grew up in Oldhamstocks. He inherited his father James Broadwood's profession, that of a wright or carpenter, and as a young man walked from Oldhamstocks to London, England, a distance of almost 400 miles, where he worked for the harpsichord maker Burkat Shudi. Burkat Shudi died in 1773, and John Broadwood took control of the company in 1783. Broadwood is credited, together with Robert Stodart, founder of another famous firm of piano makers, of helping Americus Backers to perfect the English Grand Action, which remained in use by many makers virtually unchanged for 70 years and, in Broadwoods' case over 100 years, and continued in use in various improved forms until the early years of the 20th century. John married Shudi's daughter Barbara in 1769. They had four children, then Barbara died. He then married Mary Kitson in 1781 and had a further six children. Many of his descendants were involved in pianoforte manufacturing in England and some were involved in the British Army in India during the reign of Queen Victoria. Others emigrated to Australia, where Broadwood descendants still live. The Broadwood family tree can be traced back to circa 1580.
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