William Ramsay (manufacturer)
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William Ramsay | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 June 1868 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 4 September 1914 (aged 46) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Inventor, manufacturer, businessman |
| Relatives | Sir John Ramsay (brother), Hugh Ramsay (brother), Robin Ramsay (grandson) |
William Ramsay (6 June 1868 – 4 September 1914) was a Scottish-born Australian shoe polish manufacturer. In 1906, Ramsay developed "Kiwi" brand shoe polish, today one of the most famous shoe polish brands in the world.
Ramsay was born on 6 June 1868 in Glasgow, Scotland to Margaret Thomson and her husband, businessman John Ramsay. The family migrated to Melbourne in June 1878.[1] The family prospered in Victoria; Ramsay's father, John, was a die-sinker and engraver in Scotland, however he became a successful real estate broker in his adopted homeland. After he left school, Ramsay set up a successful real estate firm with his father.
After a trip to New Zealand, where he met and married Annie Elizabeth Meek in Oamaru on 2 January 1901, Ramsay established a factory in Carlton in partnership with Hamilton McKellar. From there, Ramsay & McKellar produced disinfectants, polishes, creams, and other products.[citation needed]
In 1904 the factory moved to Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. In 1906, they began producing a new shoe polish under the trademark "Kiwi". The polish, which would become successful in Australia within a few years, was named in honour of Annie Ramsay's New Zealand heritage. In 1912, after McKellar had left the company, Ramsay's father established a branch of Kiwi Polish Co. in London. In 1913 Ramsay visited Europe to promote the brand.
Ramsay died of cancer on 4 September 1914 in the family home at Essendon, in Melbourne. He was survived by his wife, Annie, and their two sons. His father died on 3 March 1924.
