He was born at Barrhead, East Renfrewshire as the son of a Dissenting minister and entered the chemical department of a sugar refinery in Greenock in his 13th year, returning after one year to school as a pupil teacher.
He was born at Barrhead as the son of a Dissenting minister. He entered the chemical department of a sugar refinery in Greenock in his 13th year. He was returning after one year to school as a pupil teacher. Barrhead was East Renfrewshire.