Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cameron, Hugh

1339116Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 08 — Cameron, Hugh1886Thomas Finlayson Henderson

CAMERON, HUGH (1705–1817), millwright, was a native of the Breadalbane district of Perthshire. After serving an apprenticeship as a country millwright he settled at Shiain of Lawers, where he erected the first lint mill in operation in the highlands of Scotland. He was the first to introduce spinning-wheels and jackreels in Breadalbane instead of the distaff and spindle, and instructed the people in their use. Nearly all the lint mills erected during his time in the highlands of Perthshire and in the counties of Inverness, Caithness, and Sutherland were constructed by him. It was he who designed the first barley mill built on the north side of the Forth, for which a song, very popular in the highlands, was composed in his honour, entitled ‘Moladh di Eobhan Camashran Muilleir lin,’ that is, ‘A song in praise of Hugh Cameron, the lint miller.’ He died in 1817, at the reputed age of 112.

[Anderson's Scottish Nation.]