William Arrol

Sir William Arrol (13 February 1839 – 20 February 1913) was a Scottish civil engineer, bridge builder, and Liberal Unionist Party politician.

Early life The son of a spinner, Arrol was born in Houston, Renfrewshire, and started work in a cotton mill at only 9 years of age, prior to commencing training as a blacksmith by age 13, and going on to learn mechanics and hydraulics at night school.

Career In 1863 he joined a company of bridge manufacturers in Glasgow, but by 1872 he had established his own business, the Dalmarnock Iron Works, in the east end of the city. The business evolved to become Sir William Arrol & Co., a large international civil engineering business.

Arrol was knighted in 1890, He served as President of The Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland from 1895–97. He spent the latter years of his life on his estate at Seafield House, near Ayr, where he died on 20 February 1913.

Legacy In 2013 he was one of four inductees to the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame. His image is also featured on the Clydesdale Bank £5 note introduced in 2015.