Dale, David

Dale, David, was born 6th January 1739 at Stewarton in Ayrshire. Early apprenticed to a Paisley weaver, he afterwards travelled some time round the country, buying up the homespun linen yarn, next became clerk to a silk-mercer, then an importer of French and Dutch yarns. On Arkwright's visiting Scotland it was agreed that he and Dale should engage in cotton-spinning together at New Lanark near the Falls of Clyde. There Dale built mills, and became prosperous. In 1799 he sold these mills to a Manchester company whose manager was the famous Robert Owen, husband of Dale's daughter. Dale spent his last years in active works of benevolence in Glasgow, and in preaching to a church of his own which called itself the 'Old Independents.' He died at Glasgow, 17th March 1806.