Sir John Auld Mactaggart of King's Park


1867 - 1956

Builder and philanthropist. Born the son of a coppersmith in Anderston (Glasgow), Mactaggart began accumulating capital by walking to work to save the bus fare! By 1901, he had his own building company and went on to become the most successful builder and developer in Scotland. By the time of the First World War he had built 2300 tenement flats in Glasgow, thereafter he built 1500 cottage-style homes in Mosspark and 6000 houses for rent at King's Park. He went on to build in London and New York. Mactaggart was noted for his constant innovation in a quest to improve housing quality and building efficiency; he built homes with gardens because he felt the poor as well as the rich should have their own green space. A staunch socialist, Mactaggart was the first treasurer of Scottish Labour Party founded by Keir Hardie (1856 - 1915).

He was a generous philanthropist, he gave King's Park to the City of Glasgow in 1930. He was created a hereditary baronet in 1938.



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