DEATH OF MR. W. H. COATS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 80, 15 October 1928, Page 4

DEATH OF MR. W. H. COATS

MEMBER OF A, MILLIONAIRE ' ■ : FAMILY (From "The Port's" RupreMnUtlvt.) LONDON, 24th August. On 21st Atigust, at Woodside, Paisley, William H. Coats/died in his 63rd year. He was chairman of the famous thread Arm of J;. and SV Coats, Ltd., and was.one of the richest members of a family of .millionaires. Since James Coats began to make throad in a small factory at Ferguslie 104. years ago there have been at least eight millionaires in the family. Their huge fortunes can be compared Only with those of the Wills family, of tobacco fame. ■ " : Prom the estates of members of the Coats family the State has received in duties near £5,000,000.-The following is a list of millionaire members of the family whose wills have/ beon proved: ..; ■"■ ■ . • £ ■ Lord Glentanar 4,642,263 , Mrs. Peter Coats* :..... 2,526,270 • Mr. James Coats ...... 1,064.745 Sir James Coats ....... 1,773,870 . Mr. Archibald Coats .. : 1,499,125 Mr. Daniel Coats ... -. » 1,234,802 Sir T. Glen-Coats 1,674,806 Mr. W. A. Coats ....:. 3,936,085 Two members of the Stewart Clark family, whose business was, amalgamated with that of the Coats, also died millionaires. They were Mr. Stewart Clark, who left £1,947,281, and his. son, Mr. John Stewart Clark, who left £1,522,992. - ' ; The firm had been flourishing for 72 years before rivalry was final)/ eliminated in the great combine of 1895, and so vast were the profits made that in 1905 the capital.of the business had risen, to £40,000,000. Mr. W. it. Coats was the son of Mr. Archibald Coats, and was Paisleys youngest freeman. His only son was killed in the war, and his widow, an invalid for several years, has been compelled to spend most of her time abroad. ' Mr. Coats always took the keenest interest in the affairs .of Paisley. • An announcement in March that the firm were about to enter the artificial silk market caused the shares of the company to rise to such an extent as to increase the market value of the ordinary capital by over £4,440,000. ;