David Dale
(1739-1806), Industrialist and philanthropistMid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 1 portrait
David Dale was a Scottish merchant and businessman, famous for establishing the influential weaving community of New Lanark. The son of a grocer, he served an apprenticeship with a weaver in Paisley, and in 1763 set up as a linen yarn dealer in Glasgow. In 1784 Dale joined with the English cotton-spinning inventor Sir Richard Arkwright to build the New Lanark Mills. By this time a wealthy industrialist, Dale was also a philanthropist by inclination with progressive ideas for the education and welfare of his workforce. Consequently, at New Lanark, he improved the conditions of his employees, providing a balanced diet, free schooling and low cost housing.
by John Henning
glass paste medallion, 1803
NPG 5810
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.