Born at Borrowstone, in the county of Stirling, Orr Ewing was educated in Glasgow and began work as a calenderer before switching in 1831 to the yarn trade. In 1835 he turned to dyeing and printing, and this business, based in the Vale of Leven, proved so lucrative that in 1845 he was able to hand over to his partner, Robert Alexander, and retire. Alexander's management did not go well however, and in 1860 Orr Ewing was forced to retake control, and he managed the company successfully until his death.
Orr Ewing was involved in the management of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, was an original director of the Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Railway, served as chairman of Young's Paraffin Oil Company, and for a short time owned a sporting estate at Ratho, Midlothian.
He married William Jane Bennett in 1840 and died at Cannes in April, 1878.
JOHN ORR EWING was the second son of William Ewing of Ardvullen, Dunoon, and was born at Borrowstone, in Stirlingshire, in the year 1809. He was closely connected in descent with the county of Dumbarton, his ancestors having for many generations been proprietors of the lands of Balloch, on Lochlomond.
Mr. Orr Ewing was educated in Glasgow, and in that city commenced his business career, in the year 1828, as clerk in the office of a calenderer, his object being to acquire such knowledge of goods as would fit him for embracing an opening in India. However, before three years had passed his employer suggested that he should join him in business as goods and yarn agents. To this Mr. Orr Ewing consented, and the enterprise was successful. Among the goods sold were Turkey-reds, manufactured at Croftingea Works; and owing to the death of the manufacturer, a friend suggested that he would join Mr. Ewing in partnership as lessees of these works. The necessary arrangements having been completed and the works secured, Mr. Orr Ewing severed his connection with the goods and yarn agency, and in 1835 commenced the trade of Turkey-red dyeing and printing under the firm of John Orr Ewing & Co. He carried on this undertaking for ten years, and through the energy and business qualities brought to bear on it, it turned out so lucrative that, in 1845, he was enabled to retire. He disposed of the whole concern to his partner, Mr. Robert Alexander, still, however, remaining part proprietor of the Works themselves.
From what has been said, it will be apparent that Mr. John Orr Ewing's name must be closely associated with the process of Turkey-red dyeing, an enterprise which has contributed so largely, in its own sphere, to the advancement of the industrial and manufacturing progress of the West of Scotland. The special seat of the manufacturing portion of the trade has notably been the Vale of Leven. First introduced into this country in the year 1738, it has by degrees developed through all the numerous styles as now practised by the trade. It has been successfully carried on by such old firms as William Stirling & Sons, Henry Monteith & Co., John Orr Ewing & Co., Archibald Orr Ewing & Co., and others; and to give an illustration of the interests involved, it may be mentioned, so far as John Orr Ewing & Co. are concerned, that in the year 1876 they employed over 540 horse steam-power, their consumption of coal was 32,000 tons, and the wages they paid for manufacturing purposes was £54,000 per annum, yet their works were not wrought up to their full power, and all this has been largely increased since.
Whilst the manufacturing business was going on in the Vale of Leven, the commercial conduct of the business centred in the city of Glasgow, and there the subject of our present sketch, as the world prospered with him and his time was more at his own disposal, became gradually identified with various enterprises which gave scope for the play of those shrewd and keen business qualities which he so eminently possessed. For many years he was a director and took a prominent part in the management of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway. He was one of the original promoters and directors of the Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Railway.
As chairman of the directorate of Young's Paraffin Oil Co., Mr. Orr Ewing devoted much time and ability to developing the resources of that company, contributing largely to minimizing the cost of production in this manufacture, by which so great an impetus has been given to an industry which has since attained such important dimensions.
The business of the former firm of John Orr Ewing & Co., as carried on for fifteen years by the new co-partnery of Robert Alexander & Co., did not turn out well, and in 1860 Mr. Orr Ewing again took up the active conduct of affairs, which he continued to manage with his former success till his death in 1878.
Although Mr. Orr Ewing was only at intervals a residenter in Glasgow, the interests of all that was for the advancement of the city he had largely at heart; and in the neighbouring county of Dumbarton, where he spent the greater part of his life (for a short time he was proprietor of the estate of Ratho, in Midlothian), his genial social qualities were ever prominent. He was all his life a keen sportsman; and those who were privileged to associate with him from year to year in his shooting quarters in the Highlands, where, each Twelfth of August, he delighted to gather a congenial company of friends, will not soon forget the enjoyable seasons thus spent. Few men could tell a better story than John Orr Ewing, and few men could make a better bag on the moor.
The name of John Orr Ewing may be to many simply that of a successful merchant and manufacturer; but to all who came in contact with him it brings the recollection of one endowed with rare natural powers, keen insight, admirable judgment, and a warm heart. It is seldom we find in one person such a combination of the judicious mind with so much practical and continuous power of work.
Possessed naturally of a strong bodily frame, it was to the surprise of his family circle and friends that, apparently in the vigour of his powers, and with the prospect of still many years of usefulness before him, his health gradually gave way, and in the month of April, 1878, he died at Cannes, widely mourned by many associated with him in business and social intercourse.
In 1840 Mr. Orr Ewing married William Jane, daughter of William Bennett, of Yoker Lodge, Renfrewshire, who survives him.
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