Betsy Miller

Betsy Miller was born in Saltcoats and lived for most of her life in Quay Street overlooking the harbour. Her father, William Miller, was a ship-owner and timber merchant. Betsy's only brother tragically drowned, so Betsy began to assist her father in the running of the business. William Miller died in 1847, leaving large debts, and Betsy took over the running of the business. She left the counting office to take charge of the family's ship 'Clytus', which carried coal from Saltcoats to Ireland. Betsy made no concessions to her sex and sailed with the 'Clytus' whatever the weather. One passenger returning on the ship from Ireland was dumbfounded to be introduced to a female captain.

The first woman to be registered as master of a ship, Betsy Miller finally retired to her little house on Quay Street at the age of 70 and died just two years later in 1864. She is buried in the churchyard of the old Ardrossan Parish Church at Saltcoats (now the North Ayrshire Museum).