The “Archibald Russell”

An interesting product of my family history research was the discovery of our connection to the Archibald Russell, a four-masted steel barque launched in 1905.

It was the last tall ship built by the Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, and was built for John Hardie & Son in Glasgow. As the name of the ship was the same as several of my ancestors, I wanted to explore its history a bit more to determine whether there was a connection. After having reviewed several newspaper articles, as well as having explored the relationship between the Russell family and that of John Hardie, it seems that the connection is beyond any question.

The Archibald Russell is named after my 2x great-grandfather (1830-1904), who became very wealthy in the coal mining industry in Scotland. His father was also named Archibald (1797-1872), as was one of his sons (my great-grandfather, who was born in 1855 and died in 1900). But it was the middle Archibald who oversaw the greatest growth in the family fortune. On his death, his estate was valued at £560,170—the equivalent of over £18 million today.

Archibald Russell Ltd.

Archibald Russell (1797-1872), Clackmannan set up as a coal master at Cambuslang in 1843. His son, Archibald Russell, Govanhill was a tenant farmer to begin with but after his father’s death he took over the business and began its expansion over Lanarkshire and Stirlingshire. In 1894 the business was turned into a limited liability company, the leading members being the four grandsons of Archibald Russell.

The connection to John Hardie & Son

John Hardie was also a well-known Scottish coal merchant of the late 19th and early 20th century. The first owners of the ship are shown as being Thomas G. Hardie and James Hardie, of Bothwell Street in Glasgow. There is no question that the men would have known one another.

Thomas Grieg Hardie was the Managing Director and Director of Archibald Russell Ltd., among others. In an article in “The Colliery Guardian” of 17 July 1936, it was noted that on his death “Mr. Thomas Greig Hardie, 27 Hamilton-avenue, Glasgow, coal master and ship owner, a director of John Hardie and Co., ship owners, Archibald Russell, Ltd., David Colville and Sons, the Polmaise Patent Fuel Co., and other companies, left personal estate valued at £71,174.”

The launching of the Archibald Russell

Archibald Russell passed away in 1904, and the ship bearing his name was launched the following year. In a newspaper account of the time, it was noted that Mrs. Jackson Russell christened the ship – this is also the name of Archibald Russell’s widow.