GREENOCK Chamber of Commerce is one of the Lower Clyde’s oldest institutions.

According to R M Smith’s ‘The History of Greenock’ published in 1921, it was incorporated in 1813 under the title of Greenock Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures.

Smith wrote that the petition to King George III to allow its formation stated: “The town of Greenock is the principal seaport in the West of Scotland, and it would tend much to the encouragement and promotion of the trade and manufactures already extensively established and carried on there and in the vicinity of that town.” The chamber’s inaugural meeting was held in the original Tontine Hotel in Cathcart Street on 5 January 1814.

Twelve of the 13 petitioners were appointed the institution’s first directors.

Collectively described as merchants, shipowners and manufacturers, the directors were Alexander Dunlop, James Leitch, Archibald Baine, John McNaught, Robert Ewing, Hugh Hamilton, John Buchanan junior, John Denniston junior, James Watt, James Ritchie, James Kippen and Gersham Stewart. Petitioner John Dunlop became secretary.

Smith reported that official notes prepared for the chamber’s centenary celebrations highlighted a number of commercial subjects of importance affecting local and national issues tackled in its early days. One was the improvement of the road from Glasgow to Carlisle with the view to saving a day in the time taken for the post to reach Glasgow from London. The chamber later joined the campaign to abolish slavery in the West Indies, and in 1837 members were actively involved in the promotion of the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway Bill.

In 1874 the chamber became a member of the Associated Chambers of Commerce.

If alive today, R M Smith would have been pleased to know that the organisation he wrote about in 1921 was still in existence 200 years after its formation.

The accompanying picture goes back to the chamber’s annual dinner in May 1977 and shows guest speaker, former Liberal party leader Jo Grimond, MP, left, chatting with officials, from left, Hector McLean, George Filshie (secretary), Norman Lamond (president) and James Moore (vice president).