Sir Michael Barker Nairn, 1st Baronet JP (28 May 1838 - 24 November 1915) was a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

industrialist A business magnate, also known as a tycoon, is a person who has achieved immense wealth through the ownership of multiple lines of enterprise. The term characteristically refers to a powerful entrepreneur or investor who controls, through perso ...

, chairman of Michael Nairn and Company (

linoleum Linoleum, sometimes shortened to lino, is a floor covering made from materials such as solidified linseed oil (linoxyn), Pine Resin, pine resin, ground Cork (material), cork dust, sawdust, and mineral fillers such as calcium carbonate, most com ...

manufacturers) founded by his father Michael Nairn, eventually owning seven of Kirkcaldy's

factories, which employed more than 4000 people. He was involved in the civic life of Kirkcaldy, being a member of many boards, and paying for the building of the Kirkcaldy

YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams in London, originally ...

, and

Kirkcaldy High School Kirkcaldy High School is a 6-year co-educational comprehensive state school in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland. History The school was established in 1582 as Kirkcaldy Burgh School; the "High School" name dates from the middle part of the 19th&nb ...

. In 1866, he married Emily Frances, daughter of Alfred Rimington Spencer, Weybridge, Surrey. They had three sons and eight daughters. He was created baronet in the

1904 Birthday Honours The 1904 Birthday Honours were announced on 9 November 1904, to celebrate the birthday of King Edward VII that day. The list included appointments to Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, various orders and honours of the United ...

. On his death the baronetcy passed to his elder surviving son Sir Michael Nairn, 2nd Baronet, and the chairmanship of the linoleum company to Mr John Nairn, his brother.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nairn, Michael Barker 1838 births 1915 deaths 19th-century Scottish businesspeople