Phyllis Barlow (Merseyside)
William Laird (1780-1841) moved from Greenock to Liverpool initially to develop a rope business, but was soon running a steamship service to Scotland. In 1824 he set up the Birkenhead Ironworks to make boilers with his son John as a partner. Four years later they built their first iron ship and this was soon their chief trade. Laird commissioned Scottish architect James Gillespie Graham to plan a new town for Birkenhead, centred on Hamilton Square. In the American Civil War the Laird yard built the CSS Alabama for the Confederates, but was prevented from building more warships for them by the government.
GBE12 Uilleam & Iain Laird
Ghluais Uilleam Laird (1780-1841) à Grianaig gu Libhearpul an toiseach gus gnìomhachas ròpa a leasachadh, ach cha b’ fhada gus an robh e a’ ruith seirbheis bàta-smùide a dh’Alba. Ann an 1824, chuir e air bhonn Gàrradh-iarainn Birkenhead a dhèanamh goileadairean còmhla ri a mhac Iain, mar chom-pàirtiche. Ceithir bliadhna às dèidh sin, thog iad a’ chiad soitheach iarainn agus ann an ùine ghoirid bha seo na phrìomh mhalairt aca. Thug Laird coimisean don ailtire Albannach, Iain Gilleasbaig Greumach, baile ùr a dhealbhadh dha Birkenhead, stèidhichte mu thimcheall Ceàrnag Hamaltain. Aig àm Cogadh Catharra Aimeireagadh, thog gàrradh Laird an CSS Alabama do na Co-chomhalaichean ach chaidh bacadh a chur air leis an riaghaltas bho bhith a’ togail tuilleadh shoithichean-cogaidh.