The People of Irvine

This lithographic artist was born in Irvine's Halfway (now called Montgomery Street), famously also the thoroughfare on which another famous son, poet, journalist and social reformer, James Montgomery, also saw the first light of day. Allan trained at The Glasgow School of Art from 1882 until 1896. He is mainly remembered for his landscape studies, which work is highly regarded, The painting in the poster is called 'Thistledown' and is part of the Glasgow Museums Collection.

Drawn by Irvine-born artist, Andrew Allan; this postcard was published by Millar and Lang Limited, Art Publishers of Glasgow.

This poster celebrates the connection between Irvine and one of the largest publishing houses on the planet, Macmillan. Alexander, born in Irvine in 1818, co-founded this global business in London with his brother Daniel (who was the grandfather of British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan) in 1843. Among their famous books, you can find 'Westward Ho!', 'Tom Brown's School Days' and the works of Lewis Carroll, Alfred Tennyson, Thomas Hardy and Rudyard Kipling.

This poster promotes one of Irvine's most notable sons, James Montgomery. He became a poet (writing many lyrics for hymns), a journalist and newspaper proprietor and an active social reformer (twice jailed by the Government for promoting his views). He was so loved by the people of his adopted home of Sheffield that he was accorded the honour of a public funeral, a statue was erected of him , a fountain and a window in Sheffield Cathedral dedicated to his memory and several streets and public buildings in that city bear his name. He is best known for writing the words to the hymn, 'Angels from the Realms of Glory' (and beautiful words they are too): www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDWUY3Me1kA You can read more about his remarkable life here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Montgomery_(editor)

Munro Scott Orr, born in Irvine's High Street in October of 1874, studied at The Glasgow School of Art between 1894 and 1900 (he would have witnessed the construction of the Mackintosh building and would have been among its first occupants). In the first half of the 20th Century, Orr produced a prodigious and varied range of book illustrations: from children's books, such as The Arabian Nights, Grim Fairy Tales and Treasure Islands; to the works of Robert Burns; and the works of Charlotte and Emily Bronte (Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, respectively).

Born in Irvine on 2nd May 1779, John Galt wrote many notable books, including the satirical novels 'The Annals of the Parish' and 'The Provost' - the first on a religious theme, the second on a political one (the latter being based on the Town Council of Irvine). He had many business ventures and founded the City of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. For more information : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Galt_(novelist)