Stitchers: Frances Togneri & Margaret Wyness – Lockerbie and Aberdeen
William was the illegitimate son of advocate Alexander Gordon and Agnes Brown. He was born on 4th April 1829 and lived with his mother in Aberdeen until sailing to Australia with his brother Alexander in 1852. William became a respected draughtsman and engineer of ships, bridges and lighthouses in Melbourne, before inventing a diving dress to take divers deeper than previously possible. His inspiration came from watching native pearl divers. With business partner John Buchanan he designed a flexible diving suit made from layers of waterproof material, which was rigorously tested in Scotland in the Clyde Estuary before being patented for use worldwide.
AU10E Uilleam MacUilleam Gordain
B’ e Uilleam mac dìolain a bh’ aig an neach-tagraidh Alasdair Gòrdain agus Agnes NicIllDhuinn. Rugadh e air 4mh Giblean 1829 agus bha e a’ fuireach còmhla ri a mhàthair ann an Obar Dheathain gus an do sheòl e a dh’Astràilia còmhla ri a bhràthair Alasdair ann an 1852. Thàinig Uilleam gu bhith na neach-tarraing agus innleadair shoithichean, drochaidean is taighean-solais a choisinn spèis ann am Meall Bùirn mus do dh’innlich e èideadh daibhidh a bheireadh daibhearan nas doimhne na bha a-riamh comasach. Thàinig a bhrosnachadh bho bhith a’ coimhead daibhearan neamhnaid dùthchasach. Còmhla ri a chompanach gnothachais Iain Bochanan, dhealbh e uidheam daibhidh sùbailte air a dhèanamh bho fhillidhean de stuth dìonach, a bha air a dheuchainn gu mionaideach ann an Alba ann an Linne Chluaidh mus deach a pheutantadh airson a chleachdadh air feadh an t-saoghail.