William Drummond (1760-1824)

He was born at Benthead Farm, Bannockburn, south of Stirling, where he established himself in business as a nurseryman and seedsman in the late 18th century. From about 1800, he took a lease at Coneypark and laid out a nursery there that was still in use up until the late 20th Century. The business flourished and Drummond was first joined by his eldest son, the founder of Drummond's Agricultural Museum, and the firm eventually became known as William Drummond & Sons, Seedsmen & Nurserymen, of Stirling and Dublin. In 1814, they opened a shop on the corner of Baker Street and Bow Street in Stirling and offered an advisory service to the leading agriculturalists from all over Scotland. The business continued to expand and they took new premises on Corn Exchange Road where they held a successful agricultural exhibition and sale. The Drummonds pioneered turnip development with the Drummond's Improved Swede and Extra Improved Swede. William Drummond died in 1824 but the firm was continued by his sons who operated from new premises on King Street between 1820 and 1898 when fires forced them to relocate first to Murray Place and then again to Colquhoun Street. William Drummond was married twice and had fifteen children.