Frederick (Fred) Pattison Pullar


1875 - 1901

Amateur scientist. Born in Bridge of Allan, the only son of industrialist Laurence Pullar (1837 - 1926) and a nephew of Sir Robert Pullar (1828 - 1912) who ran the family dyeing and cleaning firm. His early education was private, but he later attended Stanley House School in Bridge of Allan and the High School of Stirling. He went on to study at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College (now the University of Strathclyde) in Glasgow and entered the family firm. However, Pullar had also developed an interest in meteorology, oceanography, geology, mechanics and mathematics. He was also an early enthusiast for cycling and the motor car, owning several of the latter. Pullar was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He established a meteorological observatory at the family home in Bridge of Allan and, in 1897, became involved with the Bathymetrical Survey of the Freshwater Lochs of Scotland, led by Sir John Murray (1841 - 1914). He invented the F. P. Pullar Sounding Machine, which provided more accurate depth measurements. However Murray and Pullar had only surveyed fifteen lochs when tragedy struck. Pullar drowned in Airthrey Loch while trying to rescue a woman who had fallen through the ice while skating and lies buried next to his parents in Logie Cemetery. His work on the bathymetrical survey was continued by his father.


Use the tabs on the right of this page to see other parts of this entry arrow

If you have found this information useful please consider making
a donation to help maintain and improve this resource. More info...

By using our site you agree to accept cookies, which help us serve you better