Remembering Glasgow politician who rowed across city during floods

Born in 1770, he was a councillor in Glasgow from 1825 to 1833 and became LP in 1832 when the Reform Bill was passed.

He had the outside of his house illuminated with gas by way of celebration, and the measure of the man is illustrated by a story about his actions during floods in the city while he was Provost.

(Image: Glasgow City Archives) Robert not only sent relief to the flooded districts, but was actively engaged in the process, taking it to them personally, moving about the Briggait in a rowing boat.

Robert senior and his son Robert junior, who was born in 1808, owned a large calico printing firm in Lennoxtown, Dunbartonshire.

Both were also popular and successful politicians, the former as previously mentioned in Glasgow Council, and the latter in Westminster.

Robert senior trained in the warehouse of Andrew Stephenson, muslin manufacturer, on Bell Street.

In 1803 Robert, his brother Alexander, and Patrick Falconer leased 33 Scots acres from John Lennox of Woodhead, founding their own firm of calico printers.

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R Dalglish, Falconer & Co at Lennoxtown became the largest calico print works in Scotland, with 1000 employees.

From the first the company had many foreign customers and Robert and his associates made quick progress. He became one of Kirkman Finlay’s associates and only a few years later  was involved in running Napoleon’s blockade through Heligoland.

Robert junior acquired and resided in Kilmardinny House in Bearsden from 1853. He commissioned the architect James Smith to making substantial improvements and alterations to the property.

Kilmardinny House (Image: Glasgow City Archives)

He was an important man of his time and was held in high regard  – “one of those quiet workers that have helped to make Glasgow what it is; shrewd, cautious Robert was a sensible man, looked up to and esteemed by everyone.”

Until 1857,  Robert junior devoted his whole attention to his business in Lennoxtown, which he built up extensively, making the works ever more efficient.

Robert Dalglish junior (Image: Glasgow City Archives)

In 1857 he was elected to Parliament as an independent Radical MP for Glasgow, in what was described as the "bitter fight of 1857". He was in favour of extension of the franchise, vote by ballot, a more equal distribution of electoral districts, and an extended measure of education.

He was re-elected in 1859, in 1865 and in 1868, and retired in 1874. During his parliamentary career he opposed members of Parliament remarking that he saw “many gentlemen paying large sums to get in.”

He faced much opposition as a result of his support of the opening of the Botanic Gardens on Sundays. He was a great orator and popular member of parliament, including with Irish members - so much so, that he was able to have two dozen of them to vote with him on any bill involving the interests of his constituents.

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Robert was known as the most popular member in the House of Commons, working effectively in committee but doing little speech-making. In particular, he became "the presiding genius of the House of Commons kitchen".

He was a magnificent host with his "unalloyed joviality". He gave "bi-weekly feasts" either in London or at his house at Kilmardinny, his guests ranging from Benjamin Disraeli to John Bright. Royalty also attended. The size of claret glasses was much spoken of. He was renowned for his humour,  geniality and his  kindness as a host.

Robert junior was an avid admirer of the Duke of Wellington and was prominent in the erection of Marochetti's statue of him in front of the Glasgow Royal Exchange, now usually adorned with a traffic cone.

His portrait  also appears on one of the bas-reliefs on Queen Victoria's statue in George Square. He died on June 6, 1880.

Father and son, the two Roberts, are not well-know today but they were both highly influential, leaving behind a wonderful business and political legacy.