William McEwan (1827 - 1913)

Born 16 Jul 1827 in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Helen (Anderson) McEwan — married 1885 in St George Hanover Square, London, England, United Kingdom

Died 12 May 1913 at age 85 in Mayfair, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

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Was the largest Brewer in Scotland.

Biography

William McEwan is Notable.

William McEwan was born in Scotland.

William McEwan was born in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland in 1827. He was the third of five children of John McEwan a ship owner and Ann Jaffray. ^[1]

In 1851 William McEwan began five years' technical and management training with his uncle, John Jeffrey, who since 1835 had been proprietor of the Heriot brewery, Edinburgh. By 1856 his brewing apprenticeship was completed, and, using family and borrowed capital, he established his own business at the Fountain brewery, near the eastern terminus of the Union Canal and adjacent to the Caledonian Railway. William expanded the business through Scotland and Tyneside and to the British Colonies with McEwan's Export ale.

In 1874 his nephew William Younger was apprenticed to the company and eventually took the position of managing director. William McEwan was able to enter politics as the member of parliament for Edinburgh Central. His company thrived and William was a generous philanthropist. The McEwan Hall at Edinburgh University was built with his donation.

William McEwan married Helen Anderson (1835/6–1906), widow of William Anderson, day porter at McEwan's brewery, in 1885. ^[2]She had a daughter Margaret Anderson ( Dame Margaret Grenville ) ^[3][4]

William McEwan died at 16 Charles Street, Mayfair^[5], on the 12th of May 1913, aged eighty-five, ^[6]and was buried at Great Bookham, Surrey. His total estate was valued at £1.5 million.^{[7] [8]}His home in Edinburgh, 25 Palmerston Place, is now the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre.

Sources

1. ↑ Scotland’s People OPR Baptisms: Name: MCEWEN, WILLIAM; Parents: JOHN MCEWEN/ANNE JAFFRAY FR1748 (FR1748); Sex: M; Date: 19/08/1827; Ref: 465/70 64; Place: Alloa.
2. ↑ England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DT1-PHR : 13 December 2014), William Mcewan, 1885; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1885, quarter 4, vol. 1A, p. 789, St. George Hanover Square, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
3. ↑ ANDERSON, MARGARET HELEN ANDERSON GRO Reference: 1864 M Quarter in MARYLEBONE Volume 01A Page 502
4. ↑ I. Donnachie, A history of the brewing industry in Scotland (1979)
5. ↑ pdf
6. ↑ England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2N1P-FDF : 31 December 2014), William Mcewan, 1913; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, St. George Hanover Square, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
7. ↑ Find a Will https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk
8. ↑ £225,000 Death Duty." Derby Daily Telegraph, August 7, 1913, 4. British Library Newspapers (accessed October 10, 2020).

See Also:

• Find a Grave, database and images ' : accessed 14 October 2021), memorial page for William McEwan (16 Jul 1827–12 May 1913), Find A Grave: Memorial #102005306, citing Canongate Churchyard, Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland ; Maintained by Samuel Taylor Geer (contributor 46925792) .
• Wikidata: Item Q8015392, en:Wikipedia
• Polesden Lacey
• Margaret Greville