When writing or talking about Andrew Carnegie, particularly from his early years, his wider family must also be mentioned. None more so than his Uncle George Lauder, who’s first wife was Seaton Morrison, sister to his mother, Margaret. Both the Lauder and Morrison families had a huge effect on the forming of Andrew’s thinking. The following set of words will look at the Lauder influence on Andrew.
George Lauder was born in 1815 and grew up in the radical circles, socialising with linen handloom weavers which was a prominent trade in Dunfermline prior to advancement to the large linen factories which ultimately led to the demise of the self employed handloom weaver industry.
Image: George Lauder Sr. (photograph of a painting)
Image: George Lauder’s house, Dunfermline High Street
As he grew to manhood, his career saw him move to running a grocery business, firstly in Guildhall Street the on the High Street itself.
To his close and wider family, operating your own shop on the High Street in Dunfermline was the pinnacle of success! The shop was on the ground floor at street level, but the upper floors were the living apartment. Entry to the living area was by a set of internal stairs to the left of the shop front.
It was to this shop that young Andrew came and along with George’s own son, listened to what George informally educated the young cousins of all things Scottish – Robert the Bruce, William Wallace and Robert Burns to name but a few subjects.
Image: Detail from Dunfermline Demonstrations painting by William Geddes and Andrew Blair (1881-1882). George Lauder’s house has an American flag hanging from its window. ACBM 1928/23
However, in the wider area of Dunfermline, George was member of the local Town Council. Dunfermline suffered from a poor water system, with the public water not fit to be consumed and often limited to certain times. While serving on the Council, it became a passionate crusade of George Lauder to implement a good healthy water supply in the town. This crusade could well have been spurred on due to the death of his wife, Seaton. She had been ill and had a medicine prescribed for her. George did as instructed and mixed the medicine with water. She did not recover and the cause was speculated that it was the impure water that took her. This only fired George to crusade on with his water vision!
It took until 1871 for George to be in a position to get a proposal for a public water supply before the Council. Even then, it took until 1875 for a scheme to be approved, but this was the victory that George Lauder had been seeking. Even today, when a water tap is turned on in a house, thought should be given to the man who campaigned to have this facility.
George Lauder was also a member of the Burgh School Board. Another of his passions was for a full education for all young people, particularly those who were involved in the more manual trades. He held to the saying that there were two kinds of education – ‘ Handucation & Headucation ‘. The school rejected his call to build a school for those requiring ‘Handucation’. He resigned from the Board.
However, true to his character, he sought advice and support from his now wealthy nephew in America, Andrew Carnegie. Over the course of several letters back & forth, Andrew was convinced of the project of building such a school outlined by his uncle. It was in 1897 that George Lauder was in a position to announce that ‘ a true friend to Dunfermline ‘ was happy to donate £7,000 for the building and equipping a purpose built Technical College. This donation was increased to £13,000
Image: Former Lauder Technical College off Priory Lane. Only the front facade of the building was retained when the flatted development was built.
In 1899, attending the opening ceremony and at Andrew’s insistence, the name of the school should be that of Lauder Technical College. This reflected how much esteem he held for his uncle, George Lauder. This school still exists, despite re-locating to the east of Dunfermline and renamed several times and now is simply part of Fife College!
We are so fortunate in Dunfermline to have such visionary and generous ancestors!
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This blog was written by Jack Pryde, a local tour guide.
To find out more, why not borrow from your local library the book The Lauder Legacy - the Life and Times of George Lauder and Lauder College by Dominic J. Currie.
