- James Key Caird
Sir James Key Caird, 1st Baronet (
7 January 1837 –6 March 1916 ) was a jute baron andphilanthropist . Born inDundee , he was one of the city's most successful entrepreneurs, who used the latest technology in his Ashton and Craigie Mills. He became head of the family firm in 1870.He made a substantial fortune, and gifted both the
Caird Hall , which dominates City Square, and Caird Park in the north of the city. TheMarryat Hall , gifted by his sister Mrs Emma Grace Marryat, links to the Caird Hall. His donations totalled £270,000 — equivalent to £20 million. He was created Baronet in 1913.Caird funded Sir
Ernest Shackleton 'sAntarctic expedition of 1914 to 1916 on the "Endurance", and Shackleton's open boat the "James Caird", in which six of the Endurance's crew made the epic open boat voyage of 800 miles (1,300 km) fromElephant Island toSouth Georgia , was named in appreciation of Caird's contribution.Caird held an honorary degree from the
University of St. Andrews .He died at Belmont Castle,
Dundee .
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