David Landsborough
David Landsborough was born in Stevenston (North Ayrshire) in
1826. As a boy he attendedIrvineAcademywalking there and back each
day with his elder brother. Progressing throughGlasgowUniversityand
Divinity Hall,Edinburghhe was ordained in 1851 as minister of
theHendersonChurch, then inWellington Street,Kilmarnock. He
remained minister there for 51 years, lifting the Church from
serious debt and dwindling attendances to one of double the size
capable of raising £2, 200 at a bazaar in 1904.
From his earliest days on the shore with his father, David
Landsborough had taken a keen interest in natural history. In
addition he studied geology, palaeontology, archaeology and
local history. Several of the new species of animals and plants
which he discovered are named after him. He accumulated important
collections including shells, fossil plants and communion tokens
and wrote several books on a variety of subjects.
He was President (later Honorary President) of the Kilmarnock
Philosophical Institution and in 1884, when the Glenfield Ramblers
Society was formed he became their first Honorary President.
His scientific pursuits were rewarded in 1901 when he was given
the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Law byGlasgowUniversity. Later in
1901 he reached his jubilee in the ministry and in addition to the
special church services there was a civic function at the Corn
Exchange. For many years after his retrial in 1902, David
Landsborough enjoyed good heath but in 1912 the 'Grand Old Man of
Kilmarnock' died. A year later in 1915 a memorial plaque to
Landsborough was unveiled on Craigie Hill. Part of his collections
form an important part of the Natural Sciences collection at the
Dick Institute in Kilmarnock.
