The ‘Dundee laddie’ who went on to own a fleet of ships

BORN in Airlie Park, West Ferry, in 1840, Sir Charles Barrie was one of Dundee’s most honoured sons and a former lord provost of the city.

He died aged 81 on February 28 1921.

On that day, it was reported that Sir Charles was a “Dundee laddie” who, as a mere youth, went to sea as an apprentice on board the Dundee ship, Sutlej, which was engaged on transport service during the Crimean War.

His obituary said his death “removes a remarkable personality from our midst”, and described him as a “typical mariner, with a dash of the quarterdeck manner softened by breezy good humour”

He was said to have had a “kindly and generous disposition, and old sailors and their dependents had in him a true-hearted friend”.

Having studied law, Barrie went on an extensive tour of the world and then settled down into a mercantile career, joining his father in the shipping business.

He was widely known as Captain Charles Barrie for the sea was his profession.

At an early age, he took command of Indian liners.

In time he became a master mariner, and for 25 years was engaged in the Indian trade.

When the Suez Canal opened in 1869, Captain Barrie left the ships for the steamers.

Once again he was in the Indian trade, but in 1880 he commanded the City of Venice, in which Sir Garnet Wolseley and his staff went out to South Africa at the time of the Zulu War.

For nearly a year, Captain Barrie kept guard along the African coast in charge of the flagship.

Early in the 1880s, he gave up the sea and settled in Dundee, becoming managing owner of a successful fleet of ships and steamers.

In 1898, he was elected a representative to the Town Council by the Seventh Ward electors.

In 1902, he became Lord

Provost – the highest honour his native city could bestow upon him. This post lasted until 1905.

On his retirement, he was presented with his portrait as a mark of the esteem in which he was held by the community.

He was knighted in 1918.

As well as presenting the Hilltown clock to the Dundee community, Sir Charles gifted Coldside branch library.

He had been brought up in the area and the site of the library formed part of his family’s property.