Andrew Usher

File:A Usher & Co. window.JPG

Usher & Co window advertisement, Edinburgh

File:The grave of Andrew Usher, Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh.jpg

The grave of Andrew Usher, Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh

Andrew Usher (5 January 1826–1 November 1898) was a successful whisky distiller and blender.

Background

His father (also Andrew Usher, 1782 – 1855) had experimented with the blending of whisky in the 1840s. Andrew Usher II was made a partner of Andrew Usher & Co of Edinburgh in the late 1840s. Andrew Usher II perfected the blending of whisky. This propelled whisky from a drink that had hardly been heard of outside Scotland and Ireland into the golden liquid which conquered the world. Andrew Usher II was one of the three founders of the North British Distillery with the other two founders being John Crabbie of Crabbie's Green Ginger and William Sanderson, whisky blender of Vat 69, who both served as Directors of the NB distillery. Andrew Usher II was the first Chairman of the NB Distillery from the start in 1885 until very shortly before his death on 1/11/1898. Andrew Usher II and his brother John Usher, as Partners in Andrew Usher & Co, were also the proprietors of the Edinburgh Distillery. Andrew Usher II is acclaimed as the Father of the modern Scottish Whisky industry.

Philanthropy

Among his many bequests to Edinburgh and Scotland was the Usher Hall, Scotland's premier concert hall. He also played a major role in improving the fishing village and harbour of St Abbs in Berwickshire.

Death

He is buried in the Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh with his first wife, Elizabeth Langmuir Miller (1826-1976), second wife, Marion Blackwood Murray (1847-1925) and several of their children. The large monument lies in the south-west corner of the original cemetery, adjacent to the opening to the western extension.

References

CITATION: "THE USHER FAMILY IN SCOTLAND" by Colonel Charles Usher, D.S.O, O.B.E