Gourlay Brothers & Co Dundee

Scottish, 1854 - 1908

BiographyThe Gourlay Brothers were a marine engineering and ship building company based in Dundee, Scotland. Originally begun in 1790 as the Dundee Foundry, the company moved into producing steam engines and later, locomotives.

In 1846 the business was renamed Gourlay, Mudie and Co. and in 1853 known as Gourlay Brothers and Co. The four Gourlay brothers - Alexander, William, Gershom and Henry - began shipbuilding in 1854. The business was successful for many years, manufacturing vessels for an international client base including Europe, South America, Australia and South Africa. As the years went on the business survived with fluctuations in the economy and was able to diversify. They produced paddle steamers, screw propellers and locomotives for railways. However in 1908 the company was forced to close, despite modernising the shipyard and having its biggest year of production in 1906. Debt and economic forces beyond their control in addition to labour disputes became too much and in 1909 the yard's equipment was auctioned off.

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