McManus 168

Francis (baptised Frank)^[1] Whitehurst was born in Derby, England to Francis Whitehurst (a bricklayer/builder)^[7] and his wife Ann Bowler, on 22nd April 1810.^[1] He was baptised in St Werburgh’s Church, Derby, where his parents were married 8 years earlier.^[15]

In 1832, Francis Whitehurst, a young man in his early twenties, was listed as a ‘Travelling Merchant,’ when he married his first wife Helen Turner (or Turly).^[2] Helen’s father Patrick was a shoemaker in Belfast.^[2]

Francis Whitehurst began his furniture business in Dundee in 1845.^[13]

The 1851 census listed the family in South Tay Street, Dundee together with children, Francis and Susan.^[4]. The census stated that their son Francis had been born in Glasgow, while daughter Susan had been born in Monaghan, Ireland.^[4] No longer listed as a ‘merchant,’ Francis’ occupation was declared to have been as a ‘broker.’^[4]

A blow for this family was felt in 1854 when Francis’ wife, Helen, died of cholera.^[16] Four years later, in 1857, Francis, now a furniture dealer, remarried.^[3]

Throughout the 1850s, Francis Whitehurst, based at 28 & 30 South Tay Street, developed a growing business, adding the claims of cabinetmaker and upholsterer to the services offered to customers.

At the beginning of 1869, Francis Whitehurst continued to operate from 28 & 30 South Tay Street. However, by the end of the same year, his business had expanded considerably and had moved to larger premises at 48 & 50 South Tay Street. With the move, the calibre of the advertisements for the business had taken on a distinctly ‘upmarket’ tone. Now titled ‘F Whitehurst’s Cabinet & Upholstery Halls,’ the adverts declared that the operation had now assumed ‘enormous dimensions of 15,000 square feet of floorage, and being at present filled with one of the largest and most varied stock of HOUSE & OFFICE FURNITURE in Scotland and well worthy of a visit from those intending to purchase.’^[17]  The advert, in its attempts to entice custom stated that ‘they (the customers) will be courteously shown through and advised, without being importuned to buy.’^[17]

The same advertisement also indicated that Francis Whitehurst held a workshop and woodyard at nos. 34, 36 & 38 South Tay Street.^[17] Some years earlier, ‘F Whitehurst’s Showrooms’ were listed at 28, 30, 34, 36 & 38 South Tay Street,^[18] occupying an extensive part of the west side of the street.

Just 3 years after the expansion, in 1872, Francis Whitehurst declared his retiral from the business he founded in 1845 and had built up over 27 years.^[13] The operation of ‘Cabinetmakers & Upholsterers’ in South Tay Street was transferred to his son, Francis Whitehurst Jnr. and Alexander Wallace, cabinetmaker, under the title of ‘Messrs Whitehurst & Wallace,’ who hoped to ‘merit an increased share of the public patronage.’^[19]

Francis Whitehurst Snr. died on 22 October 1883 at the age of 73 years.^[8] He was buried in the Western Cemetery together with his first wife, Helen and their son Francis.^[9]