Our Chamber was originally incorporated in 1813 by Royal Charter on behalf of King George, as The Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures of Greenock - to tend to the encouragement and promotion of trade and manufactures already extensively established and carry on there.
There have been 126 presidents since then including many prominent business people working in shipbuilding, engineering, sugar and other merchant activities, as well as council officials, legal officers and practitioners. These activities reflect the principal businesses of the Inverclyde region in the 19th and 20th centuries, predominantly sugar refining and shipbuilding. More recently, the presidency and board have been made up of a more diverse group of business people.
The first Greenock Chamber Board of Directors was an all male affair, consisting of bankers, merchants, legal officers and council officials. It even included the “father of the Scottish Temperance Movement”!
Inaugural President was Alexander Dunlop who worked as a merchant and a banker – he was founder and partner of
William Napier & Co, known as the Renfrewshire Banking Company. He was also Justice of the Peace, Advocate and Magistrate of Greenock in 1805.
The first Board also included James Watt Jnr, son of the famous
inventor and
mechanical engineer whose improvements to the
steam engine were fundamental to the changes brought by the
Industrial Revolution. James Jnr, who went on to serve as the 10th President of the Chamber’s Board, was also a Bailie to the Magistrate in 1833 and Greenock Provost in 1834.
Today, as we watch exciting new developments spring up along the riverside that are bringing transformational change for Inverclyde, its people and its businesses, Greenock Chamber works hard to ensure our collective business voice is heard loud and clear. Find out more about what we provide today at Members’ Services and Events.
THE FIRST BOARD
Alexander Dunlop – the inaugural President, who worked as a merchant and a banker – he was founder and partner of William Napier & Co, known as the Renfrewshire Banking Company. He was also Justice of the Peace, Advocate and Magistrate of Greenock in 1805.
John Denniston - was a sugar merchant and a Greenock Councillor and Baillie. He became 8th President.
James Leitch – was Treasurer of Greenock Hospital and a partner, along with his brother William, of the Glebe Sugar House (William
Leitch & Co became part of Tate and Lyle). James became the 2nd President and his grandson, A O Leitch, also served as president in 1880.
James Watt Jnr – son of the famous
inventor and
mechanical engineer whose improvements to the
steam engine were fundamental to the changes brought by the
Industrial Revolution. James Jnr, who went on to serve as the 10th President of the Chamber’s Board, was also a Bailie to the Magistrate in 1833 and Greenock Provost in 1834.
Archibald Baine - served on the management committee of Greenock Hospital and was a Magistrate of Greenock from 1821 to 1822.
James Ritchie - was a merchant and owner of James Ritchie and Co.
John McNaught. John was a local sugar merchant and a partner of Duncan, McNaught & Co.
James Kippen – took up Chamber Presidency in the 7th, 13th and 17th years. He was a produce merchant and also served as Magistrate of Greenock in 1784. His brother, John, was a prominent wine merchant in Greenock.
Robert Ewing - was a merchant and owner of Robert Ewing & Co. He also served as a Bailie and was Magistrate of Greenock in 1815, 1828 and 1829.
Gershom Stewart - was a “Son of the Manse” and a local merchant.
Hugh Hamilton - was a local merchant, who also became the agent for the Renfrewshire Banking Company - his father, John Hamilton, was a co-founder - in 1805.
John Dunlop - was a philanthropist, historian, advocate, Magistrate and a Justice of the Peace. He was a founder member of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Temperance Society and is also credited as being the father of the Temperance Movement in Scotland.
John Buchanan Jnr - was owner of the John Buchanan & Co Cooperage.
NOTABLE PRESIDENTS
Other notable presidents of Greenock Chamber of Commerce have included:
James Reid Kerr – President in 1928. James played for Greenock Wanders RFC and was a member of the 1910 British Lions tour to South Africa, playing as a forward. He also played against England in the 1909 Calcutta cup, with Scotland winning 18-8. A double international, Kerr also played one game for the Scottish International Cricket team against Ireland in 1921. He was also a Greenock Councillor and cousin of John Kerr, the “Greenock Guv’nor”, who was a famed Scottish international cricketer.
Sir (Michael) Hugh Shaw Stewart - President from 1912-13, he was the 8th Baronet Shaw-Stewart. He was a Captain in the 4th Battalion (Princess Louise's), the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, MP for East Renfrewshire from 1886 until 1906, and Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire.
James T Morton – President from 1860-61 and 1876-77, James was the proprietor of JT Morton Foods. Legend has it that Greenock Morton was named after him, as well as being credited with founding Millwall FC - as the JT Morton works team - which is why this team plays in the Blue and White of the “ ‘Ton”.
John G Kincaid – President from 1910-11, John was a well known name in Greenock as the proprietor of the famous John G Kincaid marine engineers which became part of the nationalised British Shipbuilders.