His father was a shipwright, ship owner and contractor, and served as the town's chief baillie, while his mother, Agnes Muirhead, came from a distinguished family and was well educated.
Babai i tij ishte një ndertimtar anijesh, pronar dhe kontraktues i anijes, dhe shërbeu si shefi i kryeqytetit ndërsa nëna e tij, Agnes Muirhead, erdhi nga një familje e shquar dhe ishte e arsimuar mirë.