Background
A prominent Scottish industrialist, Adam Dawson was born at Bonnytoun, Linlithgow, on 27 January 1793, the son of a distiller, Adam Dawson (1747–1836) and Frances McKell or Meikel (married 1783}.
A prominent Scottish industrialist, Adam Dawson was born at Bonnytoun, Linlithgow, on 27 January 1793, the son of a distiller, Adam Dawson (1747–1836) and Frances McKell or Meikel (married 1783}.
Adam Dawson was educated at Edinburgh University and was in many ways a busy man despite being subject to severe rheumatism through all his life.
Occupying the position of a country gentleman he farmed his own land. He took an active part in the business of the firm of A & J Dawson of Street Magdalene Distillery, of which he was a principal partner. He held the Chief Magistracy of Linlithgow, Justice of the Peace and was instrumental in the rebuilding of the Burgh Halls, Linlithgow, following a fire, which is commemorated by an inscription above the Burgh Halls, "Destroyed by fire 1847 restored 1848 Adam Dawson of Bonnytoun Provost".
Adam Dawson published a series of letters in the Falkirk Herald which he called "Rambling Recollections of Past Times" and which were afterwards reprinted for private circulation.
Adam Dawson initially lived at the category B listed Bonnytoun Farm House, and in the 1840s he built Bonnytoun House, a Tudor style house attributed to Thomas Hamilton. The house with its walled garden is protected as a category B listed building.
Following Adam Dawson"s death in 1873, the 493 acres (200 ha) estate of Bonnytoun was sold to Robert Meikel, a wood merchant from Glasgow, for £20,000.
In politics he was an earnest and consistent Whig. He was a keen supporter of Distillers in Scotland and had an interview with Sir Charles Wood, Chancellor of the Exchequer, at Downing Street to support Scotch Distillers.