McManus 168

In July 1875 W.R. Morrison & Co failed with debts of £60,000 or more.^[40] It seems that Anderson and his company were one of the numerous victims of the collapse of Collie & Co, one of the notorious financial scandals in Victorian Britain.^[41] That Anderson was a victim seems clear from his treatment by creditors. Newspaper reports show that his main creditors were banks who were prepared to accept a settlement in which his company paid 7s.6d in the pound (37.5p) and somewhat less from him personally.^[42] How much his personal settlement was, is not entirely clear. His initial offer of 1s in the pound (5p) was not acceptable but the banks indicated that they would settle if he offered a further 1s.6d (7.5p) “payable at such distant dates as might suit Mr. Anderson” and without guarantees.^[43] It is likely that this was the outcome because, the following year, Mr. Anderson is one of the partners in Morrison, Anderson & Butchart, manufacturers of linen and canvas, and flax spinners. The business had premises at the St. Roques works in Constable Street^[38] and the Wallace Works at Dens Road^[37]. This indicates that a composition was accepted by the creditors, thus avoiding the stigma and legal impediments that sequestration (bankruptcy) would have entailed. Had he been sequestrated he could not have so easily continued in business.

In addition to his own businesses, Patrick Anderson was at various times a director of several other companies. These included the Dundee Banking Company^[44], Dundee and Newcastle SS Co Ltd., the Colonial Life Assurance Co.^[45] and the Life Association of Scotland^[46].

Mr. Anderson played an important part in philanthropic and civic affairs. He was a Justice of the Peace^[33] and a member or official of many local organisations.  Education was a particular interest. He was a member of the Council of the University of St. Andrews for some years and for some of that time its Assessor.^[26][27] The British Association held its annual meeting in Dundee in 1867 and he played a prominent part in the organisation of the event^[47]. He was a director of the Dundee Public Seminaries, predecessors of the High School of Dundee and, on the formation of that school, became one of its directors.^[22]  The Watt Institution^[18] and the Free Library^[17] were also organisations which had his support. He was not only a subscriber to the Albert Institute but also one of its directors.^[48]

Numerous charitable organisations benefited not only from his financial generosity but also from his willingness to play an active part in their running. He is frequently listed as a contributor to charitable appeals for the relief of dependents of misfortune both local and overseas. For example, he was present at a meeting to set up a soup kitchen in Dundee and contributed £1 to the fund^[49]. In September 1857 he joined a committee to raise money for Indian Mutiny^[50] victims and four years later was a subscriber to a fund to alleviate famine in India.^[51] At an anti-slavery meeting he was appointed to the committee of the Freedmen’s Aid Society^[52] and later subscribed £10 to a fund designed to assist the US anti-slavery movement.^[53]

In 1871 he seconded a motion at a public meeting to set up a fund for the relief of the French peasantry affected by the Franco-Prussian War.^[54] He was a member of the committee of the Dundee branch of the Shipwrecked Mariners Society^[25] and treasurer of the Dundee Branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, formed in December 1861.^[55] The Dundee Directory for 1871/72 shows that he was a trustee and committee member of the Mars Training Ship,^[28] on the committee of the Dundee branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals,^[56] the Indigent Sick Society,^[57] and the Model Lodging Houses Association.^[58] He was also  a director of the Dundee Institution for the Blind and Dundee Prisoners’ Aid Society.^[29][59]

Mr. Anderson was involved in religious affairs in Dundee. He was a member of the East Church (now Dundee Parish Church (St. Mary’s)) and at a church meeting spoke on the subject of a committee to find a new minister^[14] and led a deputation to the Town Council to get their assent, as patrons of the living, to the search for a minister.^[60] He was also a member of the committee of the Dundee Bible Society.^[61]

In addition to his other interests, Patrick Anderson joined the Forfarshire Rifle Volunteers and in 1859 was appointed a captain. On the occasion of his marriage his colleagues made him a presentation^[62]. In 1870 he was appointed colonel of the local regiment and on retiring from that position he was presented with a silver plate.^[21] [39]

Mr Anderson married Frances Helen Gibson in 1865.^[62][2] They had ten children. He died on 14^th April 1884 from diabetes in Brighton where he had gone to consult a doctor^[12]. He is buried in Balgay Cemetery (Section O Lair 1B)^[13] though the headstone is no longer visible.