Historical Context Hugh Findlay was born into the late 18th-century world of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, a period marked by the aftermath of the Jacobite Risings and the ongoing Industrial Revolution. The year 1777 found Scotland in a time of transformation, with traditional agrarian lifestyles beginning to give way to industrialization, particularly in textile manufacturing, which Kilmarnock was known for. His birth during this era meant that Hugh would experience significant social and economic changes throughout his life. Marrying Lilias Cleland in 1801, Hugh Findlay started a family at the dawn of the 19th century when Britain was embroiled in the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). These conflicts affected trade and daily life, even as far as Kilmarnock. Their ten children were born into an era where rural populations were moving to urban centres, seeking work in new factories. This shift would have influenced their upbringing and opportunities, possibly contributing to the skills and trades they pursued. After Lilias' death in 1835, Hugh remarried Janet Nisbet within months. This quick remarriage might reflect the social norms and necessities of the time, especially considering the importance of familial support structures in pre-Victorian society. By then, Scotland had fully embraced the Industrial Revolution, and the subsequent societal shifts could have impacted their lives significantly, including the upbringing of their son Thomas. Living until 1860, Hugh Findlay witnessed the entirety of the Industrial Revolution's impact on Scotland. He saw the rise of steam power, the expansion of the railway network, and the growth of British Empire. The Great Reform Act of 1832 and the Chartist movement of the 1830s and 1840s also occurred during his lifetime, reflecting the changing political landscape towards more democratic ideals. His later years coincided with the reign of Queen Victoria, starting in 1837, which heralded an era of significant cultural, political, and scientific change in Britain.