Findlater, John (1828–1908), merchant grocer and JP, was born 11 February 1828, eldest son among two sons and two daughters of Capt. John Findlater (1802–36), of Glasgow and later Liverpool, master mariner of the brig James Laurie, and Mary Anne Hughes (1807–37) of Liverpool. After the drowning of his father (1836) and the death of his mother (1837) from consumption, he became the charge of his father's sister, Susanna Snowden (née Findlater), and his uncle in Dublin, Alexander Findlater (qv). In 1841 he moved to Johnstown Farm, Knockmaroon, Chapelizod, Co. Dublin, where Alexander had taken a lease to accommodate his orphaned nieces and nephews, as well as his widowed sisters Susanna Snowden and Helen Corscaden (née Findlater).
He began working in Alexander's business in Dublin, Alex. Findlater & Co., from the age of 14 (1842) and by 1849 was managing a branch in South Great Georges St. On his marriage (1854) he was made a junior partner in the firm. In 1873 he inherited Alexander's shareholding. Following the death (1879) of his other uncle, Adam Seaton Findlater (qv), who had been Alexander's main partner, he became senior partner in the family firm. The business that he inherited was primarily trading in whiskey, wine, porter, and tea. However, in 1879 he opened a branch of Alex. Findlater & Co. at Blackrock that initiated the progression of the retail arm of the business, through a broadening of the product base, into a chain of general grocery stores.
In addition to his role as head of the family firm he was involved in other partnerships. One such enterprise was the Dublin Electric Light Co. (1880) with William Martin Murphy (qv) and others. This company supplied the lighting for Kildare St., Dawson St., and part of St Stephen's Green, as well as North Earl St. and Henry St. Through another partnership with Robert Gardner (qv), William and Joseph O'Brien, and John Mooney he became founding chairman (1889) of the baking firm Johnston, Mooney & O'Brien.
During the last decade of the nineteenth century he oversaw the rapid expansion of the retail business of Alex. Findlater & Co. with branches opened at Baggot St. (1890), Leinster St. (1893), Thomas St. (1896), Sandymount (1897), Howth (1898), and Dalkey (1898). The need for additional capital to continue this expansion resulted in his decision to float Alex. Findlater & Co. on the Dublin stock market (17 March 1899). He took the position of chairman in the new company that purchased the business and its assets for £175,000. By the following year he had added the Royal Hotel in Bray, as well as the St Lawrence and Royal Hotels in Howth, to his business interests. The chain of grocery outlets also continued to grow in the years after floatation with new branches at Bray (1901), Foxrock (1904), and Dorset St. (1906). By 1900 he was worth £95,000 and, like his uncles, gave substantial portions of his income to many different charities. As well as making a significant contribution to business and being a JP, he was a founding member of the Royal Belfast Golf Club (1881), the first such club in Ireland. Being a figure of some prominence, he was the subject of a comic poem by John Christopher Fitzachary (1840–1902) entitled ‘He would be a baronet’ (1884).
On his marriage he moved to a rented house at 20 Eglinton Terrace, Seville Place. He moved twice in four years, to rented properties at Anna Ville, Upper Leeson St. (1858), and then Wellington Place (1862), before buying Clyde House on Clyde Road (1866). On the death of his uncle Alexander he moved to Melbeach in Monkstown, the former home of his uncle Adam Seaton, who had moved to Alexander's house. He died in Dublin, 8 January 1908.
He married Mary Johnston (whose sister Jane was married to his uncle Adam Seaton), fourth daughter of John Johnston, baker, of Ballsbridge, Dublin. They had nine sons, of whom six survived to adulthood, and two daughters.
His eldest son, Adam Seaton Findlater , jr (1855–1911), was born 25 January 1855. After graduating (1876) from TCD, he joined the family firm. While working he continued to study, receiving his MA (1889) and being called to the bar (1906). After the floatation of Alex. Findlater & Co. Ltd on the Dublin Stock Market (1899), he became managing director (1899–1911). In 1892 he became the first chairman (1892–1911) of the Star Theatre of Varieties Co. Ltd, formed to purchase the theatre of the same name on Dame St., Dublin (later (1897) the Empire Palace Theatre). He later founded (1894) and became the first chairman (1894–1911) of the Belfast Empire Theatre of Varieties.
A liberal unionist, he was chairman of Kingstown commissioners (1895–6), in which capacity he presented ‘the Kingstown programme’ (22 August 1895) to the lord lieutenant, Earl Cadogan (qv). Ostensibly an address of welcome, this programme of wants lobbied for an Irish system of local government similar to that enjoyed by much of Britain, as well as equity in fiscal relations between Ireland and Britain. His interest in the latter issue led to his chairing the inaugural meeting (November 1903) of the Irish Tariff Reform (Central) Association. In the same year he both drafted and promoted the General Dealers’ (Ireland) Bill. Known as ‘Findlater's act’, this legislation was designed to curb receivers of stolen goods.
As well as being a JP he was chairman of the Benevolent Institution of Commercial Travellers and a founder member (December 1906) of the Companions of St Patrick. That he was a figure of considerable standing is illustrated by his featuring in both Ulysses and Finnegans wake (1939). He lived at Primrose Hill, Kingstown, Co. Dublin (later St Alban's and Melbeach, Monkstown, Co. Dublin). He died 18 January 1911 at a private nursing home on Leeson St., Dublin. He married (1881) Agatha, only daughter of John McCurdy, architect, of Chesterfield House, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. They had one son and two daughters.
John's fourth son, William Findlater (1867–1941), joined the family business after graduating (1889) with a senior moderatorship from TCD. In 1898 he was president of the Grocers’ Federation of the United Kingdom when the organisation held its first meeting in Dublin. After the flotation of Alex. Findlater & Co. Ltd he held the role of assistant managing director (1899–1911), becoming managing director (1911–37) on the death of his brother, Adam Seaton, jr. He also became chairman of both the Empire Theatres, in Belfast (1911–41) and Dublin (1911–23). In 1923 control of the latter passed out of his hands but he remained an investor in the theatre, which was renamed the Olympia. In addition to his interests in the family enterprises he was chairman of both Jury's Hotel and Boland's Mills.
A keen sportsman, he was president (1897) of the Irish Amateur Swimming Association, his term of office being memorialised by the Findlater cup. He was also a founder member of Dublin Swimming Club. As a former player, he helped to raise funds for the inaugural overseas tour (1896–7) of Monkstown Rugby Club and was subsequently president (1898–1900) when the club won its first Leinster senior cup (1899).
In 1911 he founded the Dublin Rotary Club and later (1914) helped to form the British Association of Rotary Clubs. As well as becoming vice-president (1914) of the latter he was the first director of Rotary International to represent Great Britain and Ireland (1914–15). In keeping with the practice of his family he sat on the management committee of the Royal Hospital for Incurables and was also chairman of the Incorporated Skin & Cancer Hospital. He lived at the Beaches, Glenageary, Co. Dublin, and later at Glensavage, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. He died 31 July 1941 at his home, Glensavage.
Shortly after joining Alex. Findlater & Co. he married (4 May 1891) Lucy Heinekey, daughter of G. M. Heinekey, wine merchant. They had two sons, one dying in infancy, and three daughters.