Arthur Connell (1717–1775) was an 18th-century Scottish sugar merchant and importer, who served as

Lord Provost of Glasgow The Right Honourable Lord Provost of Glasgow is the convener of the Glasgow City Council. Elected by the city councillors, the Lord Provost serves not only as the chair of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire city. The office is equiv ...

from 1772 to 1774. He was partner in the firm of Somervell Connell and Company.

Life

He was born in 1717 at the manse in

East Kilbride East Kilbride (; gd, Cille Bhrìghde an Ear ) is the largest town in South Lanarkshire in Scotland and the country's sixth-largest locality by population. It was also designated Scotland's first new town on 6 May 1947. The area lies on a rais ...

, the son of Rev Matthew Connell. In 1746 he commanded a company of the Glasgow Volunteers at the

Battle of Falkirk The Battle of Falkirk (''Blàr na h-Eaglaise Brice'' in Gaelic), on 22 July 1298, was one of the major battles in the First War of Scottish Independence. Led by King Edward I of England, the English army defeated the Scots, led by William Wal ...

. He lived at Enoch Bank mansion house at the junction of West George Street and Renfield Street, near

Glasgow Cross Glasgow Cross is at the hub of the ancient royal burgh and now city of Glasgow, Scotland, close to its first crossing over the River Clyde. As a major junction in the city centre, its five streets run: north up the High Street to Glasgow Cathed ...

. His house had large grounds including orchards. The house was rebuilt around 1802 and renamed Gilmorehill House. It was demolished in 1870 to make way for the Gilbert Scott Building at

Glasgow University , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

. The university gym stands where the house stables stood. In 1764 he became

Dean of Guild A Dean of Guild, under Scots law, was one of a group of burgh magistrates who, in later years, had the care of buildings. The leader of the group was known as Lord Dean of Guild. Originally, the post was held by the head of the Guild brethren o ...

for Glasgow Town Council. Connell was a magistrate in the city and had property both in Glasgow and the

West Indies The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greater A ...

. In 1772 he succeeded Colin Dunlop of Carmyle as Lord Provost.

Family

In 1747 he was married to Magdalen Wallace, daughter of Thomas Wallace of Cairnhill. Their children included

Sir John Connell Sir John Connell (c.1765–1831) was a Scottish legal author and judge, specialising in both church law and naval procedures. Life He was born in Glasgow a younger son of Arthur Connell a merchant and his wife Magdalen Wallace. His father s ...

, father to the chemist

Arthur Connell Arthur Connell FRS FRSE (30 November 1794 – 31 October 1863) was a Scottish chemist and mineralogist. The mineral Connellite is named after him. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. Life He was born in Edinburgh on 30 November 17 ...

Artistic recognition

His portrait by Robert Harvie is held at Glasgow Museum Resource Centre. It was donated by Mrs Anne D. Houston of

Johnstone Castle Johnstone Castle ( sco, Johnstoun Castle) is a structure and former mansion in the town of Johnstone in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It belonged to the Houstons of Milliken, who acquired the estate of Easter Cochrane in 1773. The original structure w ...

References

1717 births 1775 deaths Lord Provosts of Glasgow People from East Kilbride Scottish merchants {{Scotland-bio-stub