Frederick MacLeod

 "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might.

    Very early in life Mr. Fred. L. Macleod began to practise this Scriptural injunction, so that now, though still a comparatively young man, he finds himself a personage of considerable influence. Apart from his undoubted ability and integrity, perhaps his outstanding characteristic is his singular tenacity of purpose. Once he puts his hand to the plough furrow. Lord Harris and his co-directors of the nothing will turn him until he has finished the Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa Company are getting pretty strong evidence just now of the fighting qualities of this scion of the Clan Macleod. The issue of the contest as to what policy the Board shall pursue in floating its subsidiary companies is being awaited with much interest. Some people compare the fight to that between David and Goliath, and if the comparison holds good, then the result is, of course, a foregone conclusion.

    Mr. MACLEOD was born in Glasgow in the late fifties. His father was that well-known and much respected citizen, Mr. George Macleod — a true Highland gentleman — one of the founders of the Athenaeum, and a prominent figure in connection with religious and philanthropic effort in the city. After leaving the High School, the Man You Know was for several years in the office of Theodor Hertz, iron merchant, and in 1883 he went to Bilbao, the centre of the great iron ore mining industry in the North of Spain. His firm, Macleod & Co., was founded on New Year’s Day, 1886, Mr. Fred. Macleod being the Bilbao resident partner, and his brother, Mr. Thomas Calder Macleod — one of the kindliest and most popular, and withal one of the shrewdest men on' Change — being the Glasgow partner.

    Besides being merchants, and engaged in various commercial enterprises, the Messrs. Macleod are large importers of iron ore, and own iron mines which have been opened up and developed by the strenuous exertions of the Man You Know. They are also interested in silver and lead mining. When on one of his visits to Glasgow in 1899, our friend acquired the collieries belonging to Messrs. Dunn Brothers, and later on the Haughhead Coal Company, and these are now carried on as the Glasgow Coal Company, Limited, Messrs. Macleod & Company and Messrs. Maclay & McIntyre, the big ship owners, being co-proprietors.

    An even more important alliance for Mr. MACLEOD, as a result of that visit to Glasgow, was his engagement, followed by marriage, in 1900, since which date he has become a resident in the Second City (ie. at 21 Huntly Gardens). But for that little event the name of Mr. MACLEOD might not have been inscribed on the burgess roll of Glasgow nor in the list of the Men You Know.

    He was highly popular in Bilbao, where he was affectionately termed “Don Federico,” and efforts were not a wanting to, induce him — already half a Spaniard by acclimatisation — to become a naturalised subject of Spain. He was the first foreigner to be elected to the committee of the leading club in Bilbao. Mr. Macleod is an accomplished linguist, but we are not aware that he knows the language of his clan, the language that was spoken in Eden. His favourite author is Bacon, and from much study of the famous essays, he has become quite a philosopher. All the same, he is a keen man of business — hence his almost phenomenal commercial success. That his good fortune will attend him in his forthcoming due with the mining magnates seems almost assured, as the mandates, in response to his appeal, are said to be pouring in from the G.F. shareholders.
The Baillie - Men you know -  Vol. LXI — No. 1584, 5th February 1903