DEATH OF A SCOTCH MILLIONAIRE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 222, 8 January 1877, Page 2

DEATH OF A SCOTCH MILLIONAIRE.

The Timtis announces the decease of Mr. James Baird, of Cambuscloon and Auckmedden, Ayrshire, th ironmaster and millionaire. The event occurred on the 20th June at Cambusdoon. He was about seventy-three years of age. The fourth son of the late Mr. Alexander Baird, of Lockwood, Lanarkshire, by his marriage with Jean, daughter of James Moffat, of 'Whitburn. He was born in 1803. He was the senior partner of the firm of William Baird and Co., coal and ironmasters, who have large works in the Scottish mineral districts and in Cumberland. He and his firm were distinguished for their liberality in supporting charitable and philanthropic objects. They devoted a large sum of money towards the secular and religious education of children in the mining districts, and they erected and endowed many churches in various parts of Scotland. Mr. Baird was a firm believer in the teaching of the Bible in schools. He was a liberal supporter of the schemes of the Church, and for the furthering of the territorial system of church extension and other departments of work in connection with the church system. He a very few years ago established the munificent foundation of " The Baird Trust," for which purpose lie contributed half a million sterling. Mr. Baird was a Conservative, and for six years represented the Falkirk group of burghs in Parliament. He was a magistrate for Lanarkshire and a deputy-lieu-tenant for Ayrshire and Inverness-shire. He was twice irarricd : firstly to Charlotte, daughter of Mr. Robert Lockhart, of Castle Hill, Lanarkshire, and secondly to Miss Isabella Agnes Hay, daughter of the late Admiral James Hay, of Belton House, Haddingtonshire. The will of Mr. Baird lias been published. The trustees ate required to pay to Mrs. Baird an annuity of £2,000, and they are further to invest on her behalf a sum of £130,000, the five income of which she is to have in life-rent. She is also to have the use of the mansion-house of Cambusdoon, with all the plenishing therein. The following legacies are directed to be paid:—To Alexander Whitelaw, M.P., "as a mark of my sincere regard for him," L 7,000 ; to his namesake, James Baird Whitelaw, fourth son of Alexander Whitelaw, L 5,000, to be paid io him on his attaining majority ; to William Weir, L 7,000, and David Wallace. L 3.000, " as a mark of my sincere regard for them respectively;" to Mrs. Janet Weir or Wallace (niece), L 3,000 ; to Mrs. Jane Whitelaw or Thorneycroft (niece), L 3,000; and James Baird Thorneycroft, her son, L 3,000. To the family of his lattJ brother, William Baird, are left the following legacies:—Wi liam Baird, of Elie (eldest son), L 200,000, less the value of the estate of Cambusdoon, which is bequeathed to him; to John George Alexander Baird (second son), L 220,000, less the value of the estate of Muir Kirk, which is settled on him ; to James Douglas Baird (third son), L 200,000 ; Henry Robert Baird (fourth son), LIOO.OOO ; Edward William David Baird (fifth son), LIOO,OOO ; Mrs. Jane Baird, or Hay, (eldest daughter), L 5,000; Charlotte Baird- (second daughter), L.5,000 ; Mary Elizabeth Baird (third daughter), L 4,000 ; Cecilia Margaret Baird (fourth daughter), L 4,000. To Alexander Baird, of Uurie, eldest son of the testator's late brother, John Baird, is left L 60,000; to John Baird, of Lochwood, youngest son of the same brothei', L 200,000, less the value of the estate of Knoydart, Inverness-shire, which is to be entailed on him, and to Janet Baird, third daughter of the same brother, L3,Q00 ; to Thomas Jackson,, ironmaster, Ceatbridge (nephew of the testator), L20,G00; to Alexander Baird Jackson (nephew), L 3,000; to Jane Jackson, (niece), L 3,00 0; to Mrs. Jessie Jackson

or Thomson (niece), L 3,000 ; to Douglas Baird Jackson, L 3,000 ; and to Jemima Jackson (niece), L 3,000. The trustees are directed to set aside and invest the sum of L 40,000 for each of the testator's sisters—Mrs. Janet Baird, or Weir, and Mrs. Jane Baird, or Jackson, the interest of which is to be paid to them during their lives, these sums in each case to revert to their children after their death. On the death of testator's wife, the trustees are to divide the sum of L 130,000, which is set aside for her in life rent, between Henry Robert Baird and Edward William David Baird, the two youngest sons of his late brother William, but not until they attain majority. In a cocidil to the will, dated the 12fch of January, 1876, the trustees are instructed to divide LI, 000 among the servants of the testator, and a sum of L 20,000 is set aside for charitable purposes.