Leonard Gow (1859 - 1936) was a Scottish shipowner, philanthropist and art collector.
He was born in Glasgow the son of Jessie Mcleod and her husband Leonard Gow (1824-1910), a Glasgow shipping magnate in the firm Allan C. Gow & Co and founder of the Glen Line.[1] Leonard studied Moral Philosophy at Glasgow University in 1884 but did not graduate. He entered his father's shipping business and was also a Director of Burmah Oil.[2]
Gow became director of Allan C. Gow when his father retired and went into a partnership creating Gow, Harrison & Co.
He began collecting Impressionist art and Chinese and Japanese porcelain around 1880, using the art dealer Alexander Reid.[3]
His father died on 25 November 1910. Also described as a "philanthropist"[4] Some time between 1910 and 1915 he purchased "Camis Eskan" a huge mansionhouse near Helensburgh with enough wall space to display his growing art collection.[5] In 1915 Gow employed the architect A. N. Paterson (1862-1947) to extend and modernise the mansion.[6]
Glasgow University gave him an honorary doctorate in 1934.
He died on 11 March 1936.[7] He is buried in the Glasgow Necropolis.
After his death a large exhibition of his collection was held at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.[8]
Gow was portrayed by John Lavery.[9]
He had two sons: Leonard Harper Gow (1891-1965) and John Wesley Harper Gow (1898-1986).