Memorial to Archibald Denny

Image: © Lairich Rig Taken: 28 Oct 2011

"In memory of Archibald Denny, ship builder, who died 28th September, 1866, aged 41 years, and of his daughters, Janet, who died 22nd September, 1860, aged 5 years, Susan, who died 1st October, 1861, aged 11 months. Janet Leslie, wife of the above Archibald Denny, who died 27th July, 1907, aged 77 years." Of the many sons of William Denny, first of the Woodyard (see Image), Archibald was the youngest (see http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Dumbarton-Cemetery#shipbuilding-and-other-industries for a discussion of the family). He was educated at Dumbarton's Burgh School, and then at Hamilton. One of his older brothers, Alexander, took Archibald into partnership in his shipbuilding, engineering, and iron forging business, which was based at the Townhead. This partnership did not last long; in 1853, Archibald went into partnership with John McLean, and they pursued the business of iron shipbuilding at the Churchyard (a site that had previously been occupied by the firm Denny and Brothers). He continued in business there until his death in 1866. From 1853 to 1859, the firm built 16 iron vessels. In 1853, Archibald Denny married Janet Leslie. His memorial in Dumbarton Cemetery was designed by John MacLeod, and stands 19 feet tall. [For further biographical details, and for details of the memorial, see Donald MacLeod's "The God's Acres of Dumbarton" (1888).]

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