William Paton (1819-1880)

In 1840, at the age of 21, the entrepreneur William Paton built a factory at Broombrae, Johnstone, from where he manufactured boot and shoe laces, and twine. By the late 1840s, Paton employed 300 workers. By 1860, his business had outgrown the factory and he purchased the Johnstone Cotton Mills, converting it to suit his needs. When he died, he left the business to his three sons who had remained in Scotland: Robert, George & James. His other son, Hugh, was heir to his wife's brother,  John Shedden (1825-1873), and was already successful in Montreal. William and his wife lived at Kilbirnie, Ayrshire.