Alexander McGlashan in Australia

Message

Alex Sinclair

Dunblane, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Thank you to Alex Sinclair for sending the details below about Alexander McGlashan.

Alex wrote:

McGlashan in Australia

Evidence

"There has been some speculation as to whether the early McGlashan photos from Australia were taken by Alexander McGlashan of Edinburgh. I now think that I have strong evidence that it was indeed him

Briefly, the great grandson of Thomas Brumby Johnston, of the Photographic Society of Scotland, donated a volume of photographs to the George Eastman museum in New York in 1954. The leather bound volume was believed to have been put together by Johnston about 1859/60 and contains photographs by British and French photographers, including four McGlashans.

I have now seen these photos and frustratingly they only have the name McGlashan; ie no first initial is given. Nevertheless it seems very unlikely that these photographs would have ended up in Edinburgh and been included in such a volume if they were not by the Alexander McGlashan.

However only two of the photos are of Australia while the other two are of an elderly gentleman and one photo is identified as 'Mr Smellie'. This feels a bit like a eureka moment as the obvious question is who is Mr Smellie? Well Alexander McGlashan's wife was Mary Ann Smellie and her father Thomas Smellie was alive and would have been aged about 67 or 68 when these photos were taken. (They have the date, 1854, on them.) So there must be a strong possibility that these are portraits of Alexander McGlashan's father in law.

I think that the evidence for McGlashan of the Australian photos being Alexander McGlashan is now very strong and indeed the George Eastman museum is now attributing these photographs to him"

Alex Sinclair, Dunblane, Stirlingshire, Scotland: November 5, 2014

Message

Alex Sinclair

Dunblane, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Thank you to Alex Sinclair for writing again

Alex wrote:

McGlashan in Australia

Conclusive Evidence

"I have obtained copies of documents which prove absolutely that Alexander McGlashon was based in Melbourne.

- Firstly, there is a deed by Alexander McGlashon of 18 November 1854 in which he states: "... I am on the point of going abroad where I may happen to be detained for some considerable time..."

By this deed he appoints Henry Erskine Donald to act for him in relation to his partnership in McGlashon and Wilding in Edinburgh and Holdgate and McGlashon in London.

- Secondly, there is another deed, entered into by Mary Ann McGlashon his wife, on March 7 1857, following the sudden death of Henry Erskine Donald.

This deed states: "for the improvement of his health, and for other reasons, the said Alexander McGlashon went to Melbourne in Australia in the end of the year 1854 and has since resided and still resides there".

His wife had remained in Edinburgh and the purpose of this deed is to appoint a replacement for H E Donald. Ralph Erskine Scott is duly appointed on 25th March 1857."

Question 1

"For me now, the question is when did he return from Australia. My guess is that it would have been in 1857 following the death of the person to whom he had entrusted his business interests.

Certainly the 1858 Post Office directory lists him at 26 Clyde Street, but as this was also a business address this evidence is not conclusive.

However, see also the next point."

McGlashan's Stereo Views

Advert Published in
'Menzies' Pocket Guide to Edinburgh', 1858

"This advert for McGlashon's stereos appeared in, Menzies' Pocket Guide to Edinburgh, published in 1858.

It may indicate that he was back in Edinburgh by late-1857 or early-1858.

However I am intrigued by the fact that although I have a reasonable collection of McGlashon stereographs I have never found any that bear the numbering of this advert, although I have various ones showing similar subjects.

I would guess that this was the first series of Scottish stereos that he issued and at a price of 1 shilling each these were very expensive indeed and so perhaps comparatively few were sold; perhaps also they may have been issued without labels or numbers."

Question 2

"Do you know of any stereo views listed in this advert that have turned up? I would be interested to hear whether or not any have turned up from this numbered sequence."

Alex Sinclair, Dunblane, Stirlingshire, Scotland: November 5, 2014

McGlashan in Australia

McGlashan in Australia

McGlashan's Stereo Views

Click here to select other photographers

Other McGlashan Pages