DAVID McCOWAN
TENTH child of a small farmer on the Bute estates, the late
Mr. McCowan was born in the parish of Old Cumnock in 1826, and received his
schooling at an adventure school in the village, and at Ayr Academy. He came to
Glasgow in 1841, and after a few months in a writer's office, received, in reply
to an advertisement, a place in the office of the late William Euing, marine
insurance broker. At the same time, in order to learn French, he attended M. de
Wolski's class at seven in the morning. At the age of 19 he joined a friend and
started as a stockbroker, and succeeded beyond his expectation, but at the end
of a year Mr. Euing induced him to return to his office, and gave him a share in
the business. In 1857 the firm became William Euing & Co., and in 1882, his
senior partners having died, Mr. McCowan became its head. He performed the
duties of secretary and treasurer of the Underwriters' Room from 1846 till 1886,
but in 1882 declined the offer of the Association of Insurance Brokers and
Underwriters to present him with his portrait. He was, however, much against his
will, presented with a magnificent epergne; and four years later was elected to
the chairmanship of the Association. On this occasion, and again in 1906. the
jubilee of his membership, he was presented privately with an illuminated
address.
Dr. McCowan always shrank from appearing prominently before
the public, but he took, nevertheless, an active interest in the public
institutions of the city, and was known as a liberal supporter of many great
religious and charitable enterprises. Among other institutions, he was closely
connected with the affairs of the Royal Infirmary for many years, and was its
treasurer from 1886, taking an active part in the great reconstruction scheme.
He took special interest in raising funds for clinical instruction at the great
institution, and, as one of the originators, was a governor and the treasurer of
St. Mungo's College from its foundation. He was a prominent member of Claremont
U.F. Church, and took a strong interest in the affairs of the church generally.
He probably did more than anyone else to raise the endowment of £40,000 for the
United Presbyterian College, and on more than one occasion he received the
thanks of the Synod. For many years he was chairman of the Home Mission Board,
and from 1863 he was an active member of the various committees which finally
brought about the union with the Free Church in 1900. On that occasion he was
made one of the trustees of the United Free Church, and joint-convener of its
Sustentation Fund Committee.
He was also for many years chairman of the governors of the
Old Men's and Old Women's Home in Rottenrow, and he took an active part in the
management of the Merchants' House, the Savings Bank, the Sailors' Home, the
Ferguson Trust, Gartnavel Asylum, and many other public institutions. In
recognition of these numerous public services, and despite his exceeding
modesty, Glasgow University in 1908 conferred on him the degree of LL.D. The
honour, however, had to be conferred in absence, as Mr. McCowan was too ill to
attend the graduation ceremony, and he died four days later, on 26th April. By
his will a large number of public institutions, as well as numerous relatives,
friends, and employees, benefited in most substantial fashion. His wife, who
died in 1891, was a daughter of the Rev. John Walker of Mauchline.
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Index of Glasgow Men (1909)