David Glasgow

Biography
David Glasgow was born in 1824 at Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ireland. British Museum, "David Glasgow" (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG70412), biographical authority record identifying David as an Irish watchmaker born at Coleraine, with life dates 1824–7 December 1911, address at 20 Myddleton Square, London, and service as vice-president of the British Horological Institute (accessed 16 July 2026). 

He later moved to London, where he worked for the noted watchmaker José Rodríguez Losada before establishing his own business. He traded first from Granville Square and later from 20 Myddleton Square, specialising partly in watches made for the Spanish market. "English Watch Work: BHI Exhibition, 1873" (https://theoldwatchword.blogspot.com/2015/12/english-watch-work-bhi-exhibition-1873.html), The Old Watchword, biographical discussion of David Glasgow's training, London businesses and work for the Spanish market (accessed 16 July 2026). 
Parentage
David was a son of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea. Daniel explicitly referred to David Glasgow of the City of London as "my son" in his original will, which was proved in 1871. Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Will Calendars (https://apps.proni.gov.uk/willscalendar_ie/willssearch.aspx), registered will of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea, proved 1871; original will naming David Glasgow of the City of London as his son. The portal does not provide a stable item-level URL (accessed 16 July 2026). 

Margaret Irwin remains attached as David's uncertain mother. Daniel and Margaret were documented together as the parents of Robert Glasgow in 1827, but Daniel's will does not identify David's mother. Richard John Torrens, "Kilrea First Presbyterian Church Records: Baptisms in 1827" (https://genealogy.torrens.org/BannValley/church/KilreaP1/Baptisms/1827.html), entry 146, transcribed by Barbara Braswell: Robert, son of Daniel Glasgow and Margaret Irwin of Kilrea, born 1 September and baptised 30 September 1827 (accessed 16 July 2026). 

Other evidence consistent with the relationship includes:

* David was born at Coleraine in 1824, close to Daniel's documented home at Kilrea;
* Daniel was a watch and clock maker, and David followed the same specialised trade;
* Daniel's son James was described as his third son, requiring two older sons;
* David was born early enough to have been one of those older sons;
* James Glasgow's 1853 death notice identifies him as the third son of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea. Len Swindley, "Glasgow Genealogy Notes, Counties Tyrone & Londonderry, Northern Ireland 1840–69" (https://www.cotyroneireland.com/surnames/glasgow.html), transcription of a Londonderry Sentinel notice dated 18 February 1853, describing James Glasgow as the third son of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea (accessed 16 July 2026). 

Daniel Glasgow should therefore be attached as David's certain father. Margaret Irwin should remain marked uncertain unless further evidence identifies her as David's mother.
Watchmaking career
David became a prominent London watchmaker and an early member of the British Horological Institute. He served as its vice-president by 1858. 

By the 1870s he was trading from 20 Myddleton Square, London. A surviving watch movement in the British Museum is signed:

:D. Glasgow, 20 Myddleton Square, London, No. 1516. British Museum, half-hunter watch movement (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1958-1201-1008), made by David Glasgow at 20 Myddleton Square, London, about 1875 (accessed 16 July 2026). 

David employed other watchmakers and participated in the British Horological Institute's 1873 exhibition. 
Publication
In 1885 David published Watch and Clock Making, a technical manual covering the construction, repair and manufacture of watches and clocks. David Glasgow, Watch and Clock Making (https://archive.org/details/watchandclockma00glasgoog) (London: Cassell & Company, 1885), Internet Archive digitisation (accessed 16 July 2026). 

The book was reissued in later editions and became his best-known contribution to horological literature.
Death and probate
David died at 20 Myddleton Square, Clerkenwell, London, on 7 December 1911. Probate was granted on 2 February 1912 to Cecilia Glasgow and Madeline Glasgow, both spinsters. Official England and Wales probate search (https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/), National Probate Calendar, 1912, entry for David Glasgow, recording his death at 20 Myddleton Square, Clerkenwell, on 7 December 1911 and the grant of probate on 2 February 1912 to Cecilia Glasgow and Madeline Glasgow, spinsters. The calendar does not state their relationship to David (accessed 16 July 2026). 

The relationship of Cecilia and Madeline Glasgow to David has not yet been verified. His burial place, spouse and children should remain blank unless supported by further records.
Research Notes
Daniel Glasgow's original 1871 will directly identifies David Glasgow of the City of London as his son. David's relationship to Daniel is therefore proved and should no longer be marked uncertain.

The available evidence does not establish that Margaret Irwin was David's mother. She should remain attached only as an uncertain parent.

Further useful records may include:

* David's marriage certificate, which may name his father and provide details of his spouse;
* London census returns;
* his civil death certificate;
* the full probate file;
* an obituary in the Horological Journal;
* Kilrea or Coleraine Presbyterian baptism records;
* records identifying Cecilia and Madeline Glasgow and their relationship to David.
Sources

== Biography ==

{{Ireland Native}}
{{Occupation|text=was a watchmaker and horological author}}

'''David Glasgow''' was born in 1824 at Coleraine, County Londonderry, Ireland.<ref name="BritishMuseumBio">[https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG70412 British Museum, "David Glasgow"], biographical authority record identifying David as an Irish watchmaker born at Coleraine, with life dates 1824–7 December 1911, address at 20 Myddleton Square, London, and service as vice-president of the British Horological Institute (accessed 16 July 2026).</ref>

He later moved to London, where he worked for the noted watchmaker José Rodríguez Losada before establishing his own business. He traded first from Granville Square and later from 20 Myddleton Square, specialising partly in watches made for the Spanish market.<ref name="WatchWork">[https://theoldwatchword.blogspot.com/2015/12/english-watch-work-bhi-exhibition-1873.html "English Watch Work: BHI Exhibition, 1873"], The Old Watchword, biographical discussion of David Glasgow's training, London businesses and work for the Spanish market (accessed 16 July 2026).</ref>

=== Parentage ===

David was a son of [[Glasgow-3896|Daniel Glasgow]] of Kilrea. Daniel explicitly referred to David Glasgow of the City of London as '''"my son"''' in his original will, which was proved in 1871.<ref name="DanielWill">[https://apps.proni.gov.uk/willscalendar_ie/willssearch.aspx Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Will Calendars], registered will of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea, proved 1871; original will naming David Glasgow of the City of London as his son. The portal does not provide a stable item-level URL (accessed 16 July 2026).</ref>

[[Irwin-XXXX|Margaret Irwin]] remains attached as David's '''uncertain''' mother. Daniel and Margaret were documented together as the parents of Robert Glasgow in 1827, but Daniel's will does not identify David's mother.<ref name="RobertBaptism">[https://genealogy.torrens.org/BannValley/church/KilreaP1/Baptisms/1827.html Richard John Torrens, "Kilrea First Presbyterian Church Records: Baptisms in 1827"], entry 146, transcribed by Barbara Braswell: Robert, son of Daniel Glasgow and Margaret Irwin of Kilrea, born 1 September and baptised 30 September 1827 (accessed 16 July 2026).</ref>

Other evidence consistent with the relationship includes:

* David was born at Coleraine in 1824, close to Daniel's documented home at Kilrea;
* Daniel was a watch and clock maker, and David followed the same specialised trade;
* Daniel's son James was described as his third son, requiring two older sons;
* David was born early enough to have been one of those older sons;
* James Glasgow's 1853 death notice identifies him as the third son of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea.<ref name="JamesDeath">[https://www.cotyroneireland.com/surnames/glasgow.html Len Swindley, "Glasgow Genealogy Notes, Counties Tyrone & Londonderry, Northern Ireland 1840–69"], transcription of a ''Londonderry Sentinel'' notice dated 18 February 1853, describing James Glasgow as the third son of Daniel Glasgow of Kilrea (accessed 16 July 2026).</ref>

Daniel Glasgow should therefore be attached as David's '''certain''' father. Margaret Irwin should remain marked '''uncertain''' unless further evidence identifies her as David's mother.

=== Watchmaking career ===

David became a prominent London watchmaker and an early member of the British Horological Institute. He served as its vice-president by 1858.<ref name="BritishMuseumBio" />

By the 1870s he was trading from '''20 Myddleton Square, London'''. A surviving watch movement in the British Museum is signed:

:''D. Glasgow, 20 Myddleton Square, London, No. 1516.''<ref name="BritishMuseumWatch">[https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1958-1201-1008 British Museum, half-hunter watch movement], made by David Glasgow at 20 Myddleton Square, London, about 1875 (accessed 16 July 2026).</ref>

David employed other watchmakers and participated in the British Horological Institute's 1873 exhibition.<ref name="WatchWork" />

=== Publication ===

In 1885 David published '''''Watch and Clock Making''''', a technical manual covering the construction, repair and manufacture of watches and clocks.<ref name="Book">[https://archive.org/details/watchandclockma00glasgoog David Glasgow, ''Watch and Clock Making''] (London: Cassell & Company, 1885), Internet Archive digitisation (accessed 16 July 2026).</ref>

The book was reissued in later editions and became his best-known contribution to horological literature.

=== Death and probate ===

David died at '''20 Myddleton Square, Clerkenwell, London, on 7 December 1911'''. Probate was granted on 2 February 1912 to Cecilia Glasgow and Madeline Glasgow, both spinsters.<ref name="Probate">[https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/ Official England and Wales probate search], ''National Probate Calendar'', 1912, entry for David Glasgow, recording his death at 20 Myddleton Square, Clerkenwell, on 7 December 1911 and the grant of probate on 2 February 1912 to Cecilia Glasgow and Madeline Glasgow, spinsters. The calendar does not state their relationship to David (accessed 16 July 2026).</ref>

The relationship of Cecilia and Madeline Glasgow to David has not yet been verified. His burial place, spouse and children should remain blank unless supported by further records.

== Research Notes ==

Daniel Glasgow's original 1871 will directly identifies David Glasgow of the City of London as his son. David's relationship to Daniel is therefore proved and should no longer be marked uncertain.

The available evidence does not establish that Margaret Irwin was David's mother. She should remain attached only as an '''uncertain''' parent.

Further useful records may include:

* David's marriage certificate, which may name his father and provide details of his spouse;
* London census returns;
* his civil death certificate;
* the full probate file;
* an obituary in the ''Horological Journal'';
* Kilrea or Coleraine Presbyterian baptism records;
* records identifying Cecilia and Madeline Glasgow and their relationship to David.

== Sources ==

<references />