Reconsider Watt tribute

slaves. The renaming, to mark the 200th anniversary of his death, was revealed last August as the university announced a major link-up with the University of the West Indies aimed at studying the history of slavery and its impact. In what was believed to be the first such programme of restorative justice by a British university, Glasgow pledged to raise £20 million for the centre.

It followed a report, Slavery, Abolition and the University of Glasgow, published by the institution in 2018, acknowledging gifts and bequests from those who may have benefited from the trade.

In November, announcing a major study by Dr Mullen into links between monuments, including several statues of Watt, and place names in Glasgow and slavery, city council leader Susan Aitken stated: “Watt’s father was a slave trader, a colonial merchant who subsidised his son. The development of the steam engine was funded by slavery.”

Sandra White MSP, whose Glasgow Kelvin constituency takes in the campus, said: “In view of the university’s research into James Watt, I think this renaming is something of a faux pas. It is confusing and sends out a confused message.”

Glasgow MSP and Scottish Greens co- leader Patrick Harvie said: “Even though this decision was made last year, it seems dubious when you consider the university itself was researching Watt’s links with slavery.”

By 1791, Watt was refusing to deal with some slave owners and wrote of his wishes that slavery be abolished.

Glasgow University said: “James Watt is recognised for his technological and scientific achievements and it is these that the university celebrates. Our website is clear on both the links that James Watt and his family had with slavery – as so many others did in the 18th Century – and the move that he made to question and condemn that appalling institution.”