THE Chairman and Managing Director of the firm of Aird & Coghill, Limited, general printers, is a native of Caithness, having been born in Wick, 23rd November, 1835. He came to Glasgow with his parents in 1838, and ten years later began life as a printer in the office of George Richardson, of the Glasgow University Press.
    To gain further experience he went to Edinburgh and joined the staff of Messrs. R. & R. Clark, where he remained for some time. On returning to Glasgow he became overseer at MacKay & Kirkwood's, then one of the leading Glasgow printing establishments, and he remained with them until he joined the late Andrew Aird in founding the business of Aird & Coghill, in March, 1861. In 1903 the staff of the firm presented him with a richly illuminated address on his attainment of fifty-five years as a printer. This presentation took place at a large and representative gathering of his employees and their friends in the Queen's Rooms. Mr. Coghill for long took an active interest in the Young Men's Christian Association, as well as in various agencies for social and temperance reform. He was associated with the late Bailie James L. Selkirk in 1856 in forming the Scottish Prohibition Society, which in 1858 was merged into the present Permissive Bill Association.
    In the Glasgow Caithness Benevolent Association he has ever taken an active interest; he was President for several years, and in 1908 was elected Honorary President. He has closely identified himself with several of the charitable schemes of the city, notably with the Glasgow Benevolent Society. He is a member of the Trades' House, an Ex-Deacon of the Incorporation of Tailors, Ex-President of the Association of Master Printers, Ex-President of the Stationers' Company, and a member of the Merchants' House and Chamber of Commerce.
    Mr. Coghill was ordained to the eldership of East Campbell Street U.P. Church in 1862, and for 40 years acted as Superintendent in the Sabbath Schools there and in connection with Overnewton U.F. Church. He took an active part in the formation of the Boys' Brigade Company in connection with this church, and was Captain for a number of years.
    In 1907-08 Mr. Coghill visited Australia and New Zealand, returning home by Canada and the States.
    In 1864 he married Christina, the eldest daughter of Walter Hood, tailor and clothier in Glasgow.

Back to Index of Glasgow Men (1909)