Peter Carmichael: engineer, inventor and philanthropist
Peter Carmichael was born on the 2nd March 1809, in Fife. After training under the respected engineer Peter Fairburn, Carmichael became a prominent figure in the Dundee flax industry. His long-standing association and partnership in the Baxter Brothers company was the basis for a long and distinguished career. Carmichael has been credited for the invention of several machines which helped to further the productivity and capacity of the company. In his later years, Carmichael purchased the Arthurstone estate, symbolising the opportunity for prosperity in 19th century manufacturing.
After his death in 1891, Carmichael was recognised as a an important figure in the industrialisation of the textile industry in Dundee. His philanthropic efforts in later life have also been memorialised by the community.
Carmichael’s flax scutching machine details, nd Thoughts on machine wrecking, extract from ‘Reminiscences of Peter Carmichael’ p253Dundee’s Chartists extract from ‘Reminiscences of Peter Carmichael’ Carmichael’s notes re flax scutching processes in Picardy, 1850s Coal and Steam experiments, 1853 and 1870Contract between William Baxter, David Baxter and Peter Carmichael, Dundee, 28 May 1853Carmichael’s notes of visit to an English factory, c1863Carmichael’s notes of visit to an English factory, c1863Letter to Carmichael re boiler and engine experiments, pp1-2, 1860Letter to and reply by Carmichael re boiler and engine experiments, pp3-4, 1860Baxter Bros Lower Dens Mills, 1866 Baxter Bros Dens Works Calender, 1868Peter Carmichael c1870 Ref: MS 11/7/4/2/5 Arthurstone gas works plan, 1869Carmichael’s visits to Baxter’s half-time school, ndPeter Carmichael by Robert Herdman, 1885 Dundee Central Library Local Studies DepartmentGrowth and Preparation of Flax, 1886Invitation to Peter Carmichael’s funeral, 1891Women weaving, 1908Ardler bell inscription, 1921
