Sir William Burrell

1861 - 1958

An eccentric ship-owner and compulsive collector of art and antiques. Born in Glasgow, into a shipping family, Burrell began collecting art when still a teenager. He was an eclectic collector, who spent around £20,000 per annum buying everything from the European masters and early Renaissance works to Chinese ceramics and Persian carpets. In 1944, he presented 6000 items to the City of Glasgow. He continued collecting and, by his death, had given a further 2000 items to the city. However, it took 40 years for the city to make the collection available to the public, but today the Burrell Collection is housed in Pollok Park. He also gave 42 paintings to Berwick-upon-Tweed Art Gallery.

He died at the grand age of 96 in Hutton Castle, the home near Berwick-upon-Tweed he had bought in 1916 and refurbished to display his art.

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