Thomas Blaikie

Who was Thomas Blaikie?

Sir Thomas Blaikie was a Scottish magistrate.

Born in Aberdeen, he was the son of John Blaikie, a plumbing merchant and his wife Helen Richardson. His older brother was James Ogilvie Blaikie. He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and then went to Marischal College. Blaikie was elected Lord Provost of Aberdeen five times and served from 1839 until 1847 and again from 1853 until 1856. In the latter year, he was created a Knight Bachelor.

On 13 November 1828, he married Agnes, the fifth daughter of the Postmaster Alexander Dingwall. The Barque Agnes Blaikie was presumably named in her honour. They had 10 children; John, Janet, Helen, Agnes Dingwall, Jane, Margaret Jopp, Ann Thomson, Thomas, George Thomson & Emily. Incidentally, Agnes Dingwall Bateson was the mother of Sir Alexander Dingwall Bateson, high court judge, and Harold Dingwall Bateson, England Rugby player.

Another point of interest in Sir Thomas' life, was the first conflict of interest case, Aberdeen Railway Co v Blaikie Brothers. Blaikie Brothers were an engineering company specialising in Iron work.