This section is devoted to the people of Irvine, some of them were born in the town, some lived here and some just visited for a short time. Some achieved great things, some are famous names and some accomplished tiny things which shaped the world we live in. For a small Scottish town on the Ayrshire coast the people associated with Irvine have made a massive impression and will never be forgotten.
- Agnes and Margaret Smith
- Agnes Miller Parker
- Alexander MacMillan
- Alfred Nobel
- Earl of Eglinton
- Eddi Reader
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Elspeth Buchan
- George Henry
- Graeme Obree
- Henry Eckford
- Ian Parker
- Jack MConnell
- James Montgomery
- James Ramsay
- James Steadman
- Jean Gardner
- John Ferguson
- John Galt
- John Macmillan Brown
- John Muir
- John Munn
- John Strang
- Keir Hardie
- Margaret McLean
- Mary, Queen of Scots
- Monro S Orr
- Nicola Sturgeon
- Richard Brown (captain)
- Robert Bruce Mantell
- Robert Burns
- Robert the Bruce
- Roddy Woomble
- Simon Neil
- William Wallace

Andrew Allan Poster 2
This is an example of a lithographic process which reproduces the effect of crayon. Allan used this technique many times in the work which he produced for Millar & Lang, Art Publishers, Glasgow.

MONRO S ORR POSTER
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).

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

MACMILLAN POSTER
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.

JOHN GALT POSTER
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)