William Kennedy (1837-1899)
William Kennedy (c1837-1899)
Managing director of the Broxburn Oil Co
1899 Obituary [1]
WILLIAM KENNEDY died on May 20, 1899, at his residence, near Glasgow, at the age of sixty-two years. He was a native of the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire, and came to Glasgow in 1853, where he entered the employment of the firm of Messrs. P. & R. Fleming, with whom he remained for three years.
He subsequently went to Messrs. Henry Field & Son, ironmongers, of Glasgow, where he devoted himself to the improvement of the manufacture of paraffin oil lamps, which at that time were coming into use; and he did much to bring this into favour, both in Scotland and in Ireland.
In 1861 he became connected with the manufacture of paraffin oil at the West Calder Company's works, with which firm he remained for seven years.
On severing his connection with this Company he co-operated with Mr. Fraser, of Glasgow, in purchasing the Oakbank Oil Works, near Calder, of which he was general manager until 1877, when he took an active part in the formation of the Broxburn Oil Company, of which he was for some years managing director.
He was also secretary of the Scottish Mineral Oil Association until 1876, and was subsequently elected president. In all the important negotiations carried on between the American and Scotch oil industries, with a view to reconciling conflicting interests, he took a leading part. He was also a director of the Niddrie and Benhar Coal Company, Limited, and of the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Limited.
He was a County Councillor for Linlithgowshire. He was elected a member of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1890.
1899 Obituary [2]