The firm of William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton, began the business of iron shipbuilding in the year 1844, in a small yard situated on the east bank of the river Leven. To this they subsequently added the “Woodyard” on the opposite side of the river, which had been occupied for a considerable period by William Denny the elder, builder of the “Marjory,” “Rob Roy,” and many other notable craft, during the infancy of steam navigation. The composition of the firm at the outset comprised William, Alexander, and Peter, sons of the builder of the “Marjory,” but it was augmented after a time by the assumption of two other brothers, James and Archibald. The co-partnery some time after again underwent change when the two brothers Alexander and Archibald seceded, and formed small yards of their own. In 1854 the firm sustained an almost irreparable loss in the death of William, the original promoter of the concern, to whose energy and surpassing skill most of the success then attained was due. His decease was deeply lamented, not only as an irreparable family bereavement, but as a public loss. When he first devoted his energies to the formation of an iron shipbuilding concern, it was at a time of great industrial gloom in the community. With its successful establishment began a brighter era in the industrial and social history of the burgh—one which has never once been seriously interrupted, and seems only now to be approaching the “high noon” of its prosperity. Sometime subsequent to the decease of William, the co-partnery was further reduced through the death of James. For a considerable time thereafter the business was carried on by Peter alone, until in 1868 he was joined by his eldest son William, and 1871 by Mr Walter Brock—co-partner in the firm of Denny & Coy.: a distinct marine engineering business established by Peter Denny and others in 1851. Within the past three years farther accessions to the firm have been made in Mr James Denny, son of James of the original firm, and in Messrs Peter Denny, John M. Denny, and Archibald Denny, sons of Peter, and younger brothers of William, who for some time has been managing partner of the shipbuilding firm, as Mr Brock is of the engine works.