James Key Caird, 1837-1916
Nationality: Scottish
Date of Birth: 7 January 1837
Place of Death: Dundee
Identity:
Sir James Key Caird was a jute manufacturer. In 1873 he married Sophie Gray, the daughter of George Gray of Perth, and the sister of Lady Effie Millais. They had a daughter, Beatrix Ada (1874-1888).
Life:
The Cairds were friendly with the Leylands, Captain Moncrieff, Louise Jopling, Nita Gaetano, JW and Beatrix Whistler. John Everett Millais painted a portrait of their daughter Beatrix. In 1894 they invited JW and Beatrix to come and stay with them at their home at Roseangle in Dundee (#00501). Their other Scottish residence was Belmont Castle in Meigle, Perthshire.
The following decade the University of St Andrews made James Caird an honorary Doctor of Laws. JW received the same honour from the University of Glasgow in April 1903 [(#00502).
Bibliography:
Jopling, Louise, Twenty Years of My Life, 1867 to 1887, London, 1925; Who Was Who: A Companion to Who's Who, vol. 2, 1916-1928, London, 1942; Who was who: a cumulated index, 1897-1990, London, 1991.