James Key Caird

Sir James Key Caird (1837 - 1916) was a jute baron and philanthropist. Born in Dundee, he was one of the city's most successful entrepreneurs, who used the latest technology in his Ashton and Craigie Mills.

He made a substantial fortune, and gifted both the Caird Hall, which dominates City Square, and Caird Park in the north of the city. The Marryat Hall, gifted by his sister Mrs Emma Grace Marryat, links to the Caird Hall.

Caird funded Sir Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition of 1914-16, and Shackleton's open boat the James Caird, in which he and five companions made the epic open boat voyage of 800 miles (1,300 km) from Elephant Island to South Georgia, was named in appreciation of Caird contribution.

Caird held an honorary degree from the University of St. Andrews.

He died in Dundee.