Mearns can claim association with men and women who have achieved renown nationally and internationally. Some were born here, some raised here and some chose to make their home here. The pages which follow tell the stories of some of the best known of these Mearns people.
There are however many Mearns people who have not achieved fame and fortune but who nonetheless have made a significant contribution to the life of Mearns. We intend to develop this part of the website to include as many as possible of these Mearns folk.
If you know of anyone whom you think should be included, please contact us.
James Anderson
James Anderson was the eldest son of Robert Anderson who founded the Newton Mearns garage in 1902. James was a brilliant engineer and designed and adapted cars which were well ahead of their time.
Dr Alexander Dale
Alexander Dale was Assistant Medical Superintendent of Mearnskirk Hospital 1929 - 1946 and Medical Superintendent of Mearnskirk Hospital 1946 - 1961.
Fairweather Family
Sir Wallace Fairweather took a keen interest in Newton Mearns and in 1933 he gave £1000 for the the building of the Fairweather Hall which opened on 25th November 1933 as a social and recreational centre for the village.
James Hunter
Born in Kilmarnock, son of James Hunter, shoemaker and Mary Wylie, James Hunter held teaching posts in Irvine and Dumfries before his appointment to Mearns in 1847 where, in addition to being the school master, James was also the first Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths in Mearns Parish.
William Mann
William Mann was a businessman, social reformer and philanthropist born in the parish of East Kilbride in 1853. He was educated in both East Kilbride and Glasgow, eventually working his way up to Managing Partner in the ship-owning company of Messrs Bell Bros. & McLelland.
Rev. George McLatchie
George McLatchie was born on 5th April 1757, the eldest son of Robert McLatchie, a schoolmaster. Graduating M.A. from the University of Glasgow in 1774 he was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow on 2nd December 1778.
Arthur Pollok & Allan Gilmour
Pollok, Gilmour & Company: The extraordinary entrepreneurship of five Mearns families in the 19th century and their connection with the Canadian timber trade is now largely forgotten.
Robert Pollok
Robert Pollok was an Author and Poet born on October 19, 1798 at North Moorhouse, Eaglesham. In 1827, shortly before leaving the University, Pollok published what was to be his final and most famous work:“The Course of Time”, which extends to ten books in blank verse and describes the mortal and immortal destiny of man.
John Wilson aka Christopher North
John Wilson was an Essayist and Moral Philosopher. He was widely read and admired for the satirical articles which he wrote using the pen name Christopher North. These articles were published in Blackwood’s Magazine of which he was one of the founders.
Dr John Wilson
John Alexander Wilson was born in Ayr on 31st July 1886. He graduated M.B. CH.B. from Glasgow University in 1909. He was the First Medical Superintendent of Mearnskirk Hospital 1929 - 1946.
Harold Storey
Harold Storey lived in Newton Mearns for over forty years. He was respected as a talented artist during his lifetime but his name is not much known in our community today.