John (Jack) Abbott


1900 - 1979

Entrepreneur. Born in Northampton, Abbott moved with his family to Ayr at a young age, where he was later educated at the Academy. He completed his education at the University of Cambridge and then joined the family business, the Saxone Shoe Company of Kilmarnock, which had been founded by his father and uncle in the early 20th Century, along with the son of noted shoe manufacturer George Clark (1833-98). Abbott gained business and marketing experience in the USA and, in the 1950s, was able to extend the Saxone chain across the UK. He is also noted for creating the 'hush puppie' shoe in 1962.


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