William Forsyth (merchant)

Forsyth was born in 1722 at Cromarty, where his father, a native of Morayshire, had settled as a shopkeeper. Forsyth spent some time in a London counting-house, but returned home when his father died suddenly at the early age of seventeen.

The herring had deserted the coast, and there was no trade but Forsyth came up with a bold idea. He formed a depôt of supplies for all the country round. He brought flax and other commodities from Holland. He traded with Leith and London, and was the first to introduce coal (about 1770), called by the country people 'black stones.' On the suggestion of his old schoolfellow, Dr. Hossack of Greenwich, he started the manufacture of kelp. He also employed many of the people in their own homes in spinning and weaving in connection with the British Linen Company, of which he was the first agent in the north, and encouraged fishing and farming industries.

For more than thirty years he was the only magistrate in the place. The general respect of the neighbourhood was shown by his popular title as 'the maister.' Forsyth helped many including Charles Grant, chairman of the East India Company, and M.P. for Inverness.