Alexander Brodie (abt. 1733 - 1811)

Born about 27 Feb 1733 in Traquair, Peebles-shire, Scotland

Ancestors

Died 6 Jan 1811 at about age 77 in Upper Tooting, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Alexander Brodie is a member of Clan Brodie.

Descendant of William Brodie circa 1578.

When Alexander Brodie was born on February 27, 1733, in Traquhair, Peeblesshire, Scotland, his father, Charles, was 43 and his mother, Janet, was 34. He married Mary Howard on October 29, 1760, in Westminster, Middlesex, England. They had two children during their marriage. Both died young. He died on January 6, 1811, in Upper Tooting, Surrey, England, having lived a long life of 77 years.

“The Commercial and Agricultural Magazine” for December, 1799, speaking of the first Alexander Brodie, who was then living says that, “in 1786 Mr. Brodie purchased the Calcut mines, stock, houses, &c., near Broseley: from which government receives large supplies of cannon, and the country in general, iron of the best quality. Mr. Brodie may justly boast of possessing one of the most complete boring machines for cannon in Europe.” The account then proceeds to give the following particulars respecting that gentleman’s very successful career.

“Alexander Brodie, Esq., Iron master at Broseley, Shropshire, was born the 27th of February, 1733, Old Style, at the Rigs of Traquaire Minshmore, in the parish of Traquaire, Tweedale.

“In 1751, at the age of eighteen, he left Scotland for England, furnished with letters of recommendation by Lady Coniers, mother-in-law to Lord Traquaire. Mr. Brodie visited Huntingdonshire, where, excepting a few months which he passed in London, he remained upwards of three years.

“In 1755, Mr. Alderman Alexander, ironmonger and whitesmith, employed Mr. Brodie, on his return from

Huntingdonshire. He remained in his employment two years. From 1757 to 1758 Mr. Brodie was employed by Mr.Brodbent, in making engines to extinguish fire. In 1758, he was employed in Huntingdonshire where he made several excellent engines.

“In 1759, he returned to London, and became a master blacksmith, in Bear-yard, Lincoln’s -inn-fields; where he distinguished himself as a cramp -maker to chair and cabinet makers. In 1760, he removed into Old Boswell-court, Clements-inn.

“In 1760, he married Miss Mary Howard, daughter to Mr. Richard Howard, of Chiswick, Middlesex, by whom he had two children; both died in infancy. Mrs. Brodie died in 1777. Mr. B. remains a widower.”

The writer then describes an ingenious invention made by Mr. Brodie, in 1764, of a registered stove, which he patented; also a registered stove which he erected in 1779, in the state-room at Windsor, where her Majesty’s needle-work was kept; on which occasion Mr. Brodie presented a model of a ship’s hearth, which Sir Alexander Hamilton had ordered for the Lascelles, East-Indianman. Mr. Brodie afterwards received an order for two: one for the Fortitude, of 74 guns, and the Minerva, of 38 guns. The writer goes on to point out the superiority of Mr. Brodie’s ship’s hearth to those in general use, and an important substitution effected by him of iron-boilers for copper ones, on board the Minerva.

It appears also from this writer, that Mr. Brodie had a share in an iron-foundry at Manchester; and that having a strong predilection for his native soil, he established in 1792, an extensive woollen manufactory, in Inverleith. At Peebles, the writer says, Mr. Brodie purchased an estate, which he called Temple Bar, and Long-Side: and which was called Smythfleld; which occasioned him jocularly to boast that he could walk from Temple-Bar to Smythfield on his own ground. Mr. Brodie also made a purchase in 1798, of a house and estate at Upper Tutton, in the Parish of Strotton; which enabled him to retire to the country from business occasionally. The writer concludes by saying – “The extraordinary suc cesses of Mr. Brodie are not greater than his integrity. He is distinguished for charitable donations. He is worth £100,000 sterling.”

It is said that he died worth much more than the sum just stated, and that he left, along other legacies, to thirteen nephews and nieces, including Mr. Cochrane, who managed the works for him, the sum of £15,000 each.

He was succeeded by his nephew, Alexander Brodie the second, who married Miss Griffiths, of Broseley, and lived at Rock House, where Mr. Exley, jun. now resides. He died in 1830, and was buried at Jackfield Church, where a white marble tablet was erected to his memory. It has since been removed to the Pritchard Memorial church.

• [See the Original Document]

• [Past Innerleithen Bio]

Sources

• England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 to Mary Howard
• England & Wales, Christening Index, 1530-1980 son Alfred