Sir William Allan (29 November 1837 – 28 December 1903) was a Scottish

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politician and engineer. He was

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for

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from 1893 until his death in 1903. Allan was born in

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, the son of engineer James Allan. His father suffered financial failure, causing Allan to begin work as an apprentice at age 10. He emigrated to the United States, working for several years in

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. He was also involved with a sea line, the Albyn Line. His early life included crew experience on steamships which were at one stage

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to America during the

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, and he wrote of a number of dangerous escapades during this time. He was initiated into

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at Palatine Lodge No. 97, Sunderland, on 13th March 1890 and remained a member until his death in 1903. He was

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in the

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, receiving the accolade from King

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on 24 October that year. Allan had five sons and four daughters. His son, Walter Beattie Allan, published a book which was an illustrated account of his life, for his grandchildren. William Allan published a number of books of traditional Scottish poetry.

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* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Allan, William 1837 births 1903 deaths Deputy Lieutenants of Durham Knights Bachelor Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Politicians awarded knighthoods UK MPs 1892–1895 UK MPs 1895–1900 UK MPs 1900–1906 Politicians from Dundee