Alexander Whitelaw

Whitelaw was born in 1823 in Drumpark in Monklands and was educated at Grange School, Sunderland and then took some time to study mining.[2] In 1846 he married Barbara Forbes Lockhart of Cambusnethan which established a marital connection to the Baird family.[3] The Baird family founded the iron smelting firm of William Baird & Co., in which Whitelaw became a managing partner. The Baird family acquired the Gartsherrie coal fields in 1826 and the mansion and estate in 1834.[4]

Through his philanthropy, he left endowments to churches and schools, including helping to found the Gartsherrie Academy,[1] and for the 1863–1864 session he was Vice President of the Academy.[5] Whitelaw's interest in education led him to become Chairman of the Glasgow School Board in 1873. One cartoon shows him having administered a thrashing to John Page Hopps, a fellow Board member with whom he had clashed.[1]

In 1863, Whitelaw is recorded in the "Curler's Annual" as being the President of the Coatbridge Cricket Club.[5]

Whitelaw was a Conservative and represented Glasgow as an MP from 1874 until his death in 1879.

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Alexander Whitelaw