Sir John Anthony JP (1862–1935) was a late 19th and early 20th century Scottish businessman who served as

Provost Provost may refer to: Officials Ecclesiastic * Provost (religion), a high-ranking church official * Prince-provost, a high-ranking church official Government * Provost (civil), an officer of local government, including the equivalent ...

Govan Govan ( ; Cumbric: ''Gwovan''; Scots language, Scots: ''Gouan''; Scottish Gaelic: ''Baile a' Ghobhainn'') is a district, parish, and former burgh now part of southwest Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the sout ...

from 1903 to 1906. He was actively involved in the

Temperance movement The temperance movement is a social movement promoting Temperance (virtue), temperance or total abstinence from consumption of alcoholic beverages. Participants in the movement typically criticize alcohol intoxication or promote teetotalism, and ...

. He was Chairman of the Scottish Liberal Association.

Life

He was born in Kirkford near

Stewarton Stewarton (,
) is a town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. ...

Ayrshire Ayrshire (, ) is a Counties of Scotland, historic county and registration county, in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. The lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area of Ayrshire and Arran covers the entirety ...

on 9 February 1862 to Andrew Anthony, a shoemaker, and his wife Agnes McCrae. He was educated at Stewarton Public School. In 1875 he began working as a message boy (delivering telegraphs) based at Stewarton Railway Station. Around 1880 he transferred to

Pollokshaws Pollokshaws () is an area on the South side of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is bordered by the residential neighbourhoods of Auldhouse, Glasgow, Auldhouse to the east, Eastwood, Glasgow, Eastwood and Hillpark, Glasgow, Hillpark to the south ...

and around 1882 moved to

, still working for the railway, but as a cashier. In 1889 he became a partner in Cockburn Brothers of Govan, iron and steel product manufacturers at St James Ironworks on Helen Street in Govan. In 1897 David Cockburn died and Anthony then became sole proprietor. He expanded the business into

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. He joined Govan town council as a councillor in 1893, becoming a magistrate in 1897 and being elected Provost in 1904. His tasks involved unveiling the statue of

Isabella Elder Isabella Ure Elder (15 March 1828 – 18 November 1905) was a Scottish Philanthropy, philanthropist who took a particular interest in education, especially of women, and in the welfare of the people of Govan in Glasgow. In Govan alone, Elder ...

in Elder Park in Govan in 1906. He was succeeded in 1908 by David McKechnie. He was knighted by King

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. George w ...

in 1916. He died on 10 April 1935 at Dalmeny House: 13 Torridon Avenue in

Dumbreck Dumbreck (; or ) is an area in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated south of the River Clyde The River Clyde (, ) is a river that flows into the Firth of Clyde, in the west of Scotland. It is the eighth-longest river in the Uni ...

. He is buried in the crowded south section of

Craigton Cemetery Craigton Cemetery is a cemetery in south-west Glasgow dating from the mid-19th century. It stands on Berryknowes Road. The cemetery has a Jewish section containing 230 graves. The cemetery also contains 251 commonwealth war graves from the Fir ...

Family

He was married to Margaret Murray (1868-1954).Anthony grave, Craigton Cemetery

References

1862 births 1935 deaths People from Stewarton Scottish businesspeople Temperance activists Govan Scottish Liberal Party councillors Knights Bachelor Provosts in Scotland {{Scotland-business-bio-stub