James Ferguson PullarFRSE (12 August 1835 – 19 September 1912) was a 19th-century Scottish businessman, and main partner in J & J Pullar Ltd later known as Pullars of Perth. He was the first person to introduce benzene based dry cleaning in Britain, and established one of the world's largest dry cleaning firms. Some records give his name as James Frederick Pullar.
Life
Pullar was born at 36 Mill Street in Perth[1] on 12 August 1835, the son of John Pullar (1803–1878) a dyer who went on to found J Pullar and from there Pullars of Perth. His father went on to be Provost of Perth.
Shop sign for Pullars of Perth, Perth Museum
In 1867 he married Adelgunde Spindler (1840–1907), daughter of Wilhelm Spindler, the German inventor of benzene-based dry cleaning. He introduced dry cleaning into his existing family firm (which largely dealt with dyeing of cloth). The process quickly gained popularity and collection stations were created all over Scotland to take garments to Perth for cleaning. The Perth workforce peaked in 1909 at over 2800 persons.[2]
Pullar gifted a bandstand that stood near the southern end of the North Inch during the first part of the 20th century.[4]
The grave of James Pullar, Wellshill Cemetery in Perth
He died on 19 September 1912. He is buried with Adelgunde next to his parents in Wellshill Cemetery in Perth, slightly north of his brother Sir Robert Pullar on the lower side of where the cemetery steps up.
