John Blackie

1805 - 1873

Publisher and politician. Born in Glasgow, Blackie entered the family bookselling and publishing business. From 1831, the firm became known as Blackie & Son, publishing annotated editions of the Bible and establishing the Scottish Guardian, the first religious newspaper published in Scotland (1832). He was elected onto Glasgow Town Council in 1857 and became Lord Provost six years later. Blackie was responsible for the City Improvement Act of 1866, a major scheme to improve the quality of life in the poorer areas and was also involved in the piping of drinking water from Loch Katrine to the city.

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