Garnet Wilson (1885–1975) was a Scottish businessman and Liberal politician who served as Lord Provost of Dundee. He has been described as 'one of the most prominent figures in public life in Dundee in the mid twentieth century'.

Life and career

Garnet Wilson was born in

Cupar Cupar ( ; ) is a town, former royal burgh and parish in Fife, Scotland. It lies between Dundee and Glenrothes. According to a 2011 population estimate, Cupar had a population around 9,000, making it the ninth-largest settlement in Fife, and the ...

Fife Fife ( , ; ; ) is a council areas of Scotland, council area and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in Scotland. A peninsula, it is bordered by the Firth of Tay to the north, the North Sea to the east, the Firth of Forth to the s ...

, in 1885. He was the son of Gavin Laurie Wilson (1852–1932), the founder and owner of G.L. Wilson's Department Store,

Dundee Dundee (; ; or , ) is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, fourth-largest city in Scotland. The mid-year population estimate for the locality was . It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firt ...

. G. L. Wilson had originally set up business in Cupar moving to open his department store in Dundee, locally referred to as 'the Corner' in 1894. While in Cupar, G. L. Wilson had been a member of the Town Council and the School Board. Garnet Wilson was educated at Bell Baxter High School, Newport Public School and finally spent a year at the

High School of Dundee The High School of Dundee is a private, co-educational, day school in Dundee, Scotland, which provides nursery, primary and secondary education to just over one thousand pupils. Its foundation has been dated to 1239, and it is the only private sc ...

. He then became involved in his father's business along with his brother John. G. L. Wilson's department store was heavily patronised in Dundee and was particularly well known for its popular Christmas grotto. Garnet Wilson reportedly often gave excited small children who were visiting it an extra penny as a gift. A Liberal, in 1922 he backed the candidature of the Asquithite Liberal R. R. Pilkington in Dundee against

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...

and D. J. MacDonald who were supported by the local Liberal Party. Ultimately all three men were defeated. Wilson's career in local government started with service on

Newport-on-Tay Newport-on-Tay is a town in the north-east of Fife in Scotland. The Fife Coastal Path passes through Newport-on-Tay. The area itself has views of the two bridges that cross the River Tay and distant views of the Scottish Highlands. History T ...

's council from 1919 until 1929. As well as serving in Newport, Wilson was elected to serve on Dundee Education Authority in 1919, serving on it until it was taken over by Dundee Town Council in 1930 and serving as its finance convener, Wilson was elected to Dundee Town Council in 1929, replacing the retiring Sir William High in the sixth ward. He lost his seat in 1935, but was re-elected in 1937. He served as convener of the council's education committee and was reportedly known across Scotland for his work in this role. In 1940 he became Lord Provost of Dundee, a post he held until 1946. His selection was unusual, as he had not served as a magistrate or as treasurer. He was a popular wartime leader and was knighted for his services to Dundee in 1944. Among his achievements as Lord Provost was his role in persuading the N.C.R. to make Dundee the base of its operations in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

in 1945. He also helped establish an

airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...

in the city. In 1952 Wilson was appointed as chairman of the

Glenrothes Glenrothes ( ; ; , ) is a town situated in the heart of Fife, in east-central Scotland. It had a population of 39,277 in the 2011 census, making it the third largest settlement in Fife and the 18th most populous locality in Scotland. Glenroth ...

Development Corporation. At the time he was also vice-chair of the Scottish Advisory Council on Education and a member of the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

's Scottish Advisory Council. He retired as chairman of the Glenrothes Development Corporation in 1960. Wilson was a member of the College Council of University College, Dundee, and was its final president. This reflected his wider interest in education. He was a critic of the view advanced by David Coupar Thomson and others that the college should breakaway from the

University of St Andrews The University of St Andrews (, ; abbreviated as St And in post-nominals) is a public university in St Andrews, Scotland. It is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest of the four ancient universities of Scotland and, f ...

. In 1970 he performed the official opening of Craigie High School. Garnet Terrace, which leads to the school, was named in his honour. Garnet Wilson died aged 90 on 18 September 1975.

Legacy

Archives relating to Sir Garnet Wilson and the G. L. Wilson's business are held by the

University of Dundee The University of Dundee is a public research university based in Dundee, Scotland. It was founded as a university college in 1881 with a donation from the prominent Baxter family of textile manufacturers. The institution was, for most of its ...

's Archive Services. Dundee City Archives also hold an extensive collection of material relating to Wilson. A portrait of Wilson by David Shanks Ewart is held in the Dundee Art Galleries and Museums Collection. The University of Dundee's fine art collection includes a portrait of Wilson, as President of the University College, Dundee's College Council by Rodrigo Moynihan. He is also commemorated with a plaque on a stone in the University of Dundee Botanic Garden.

Publications

* ''Batchelor's Buttons'' Murdoch & Paterson (1921) * ''The Making of a Lord Provost'' David Winter & Sons Ltd (1966) * ''Overspill. A Record of Anecdote and Activity'' David Winter & Sons Ltd (1970)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Garnet Lord provosts of Dundee 20th-century Scottish businesspeople Scottish Liberal Party politicians People associated with the University of Dundee People from Cupar 1885 births 1975 deaths People educated at the High School of Dundee People educated at Bell Baxter High School Scottish knights Councillors in Dundee