James Laing (1812-1886)
James Laing (c1812-1886) of Dundee.
1886 Obituary[1]
"The Late Mr. James Laing.—The death of Mr. James Laing, engineer, Dundee, took place last Sunday, deceased being in the seventy-fourth year of his age. A native of Dundee, and a man of keen intellect and considerable inventive genius, Mr. Laing, who was the son of a manufacturer in the town, began life at the loom. His name has been chiefly associated with overhead sacksewing machinery, and his inventions in this direction have entirely revolutionised the industry. The overhead sewing machine is extensively used in Dundee and elsewhere, and the invention is now in the hands of a limited liability company, on whose account the patent was bought from the inventor. The purchase money enabled Mr. Laing to live in comfort up till his death, and he was so favourably impressed with the value of University College, Dundee, in furthering scientific progress and invention, that out of his modest competency he provided for the endowment of a scientific bursary in connection with that institution."