John White, 1st Baron Overtoun

John Campbell White, 1st Baron Overtoun JP, DL (21 November 1843 – 15 February 1908), was a Scottish chemical manufacturer, supporter of religious causes, philanthropist and Liberal politician.

White was born at Hayfield, near Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, the only son of James White of Overtoun (1812-1884), by Fanny Campbell, daughter of Alexander Campbell, of Barnhill, Dunbartonshire, Sheriff of Renfrewshire. He had six sisters. His father was originally a lawyer, who had left the legal profession to join John & James White, chemical manufacturers, a firm founded by his father and uncle at Rutherglen in 1810. James Smith was chief administrator of the fund set up for the sufferers of the City of Glasgow Bank collapse in 1878. After his death citizens of Glasgow erected a statue of James White at Cathedral Square, Glasgow. John White was educated at Stow's Academy, Glasgow, and at the University of Glasgow. He won prizes in both logic and natural philosophy. He came into close contact with William Thomson, the future Lord Kelvin, and worked in his laboratory for a year.

White graduated in 1864, and worked for a year for his uncle's company, Mackenzie & Aitken, accountants, and then for a year and a half for Leisler, Bock & Co, continental merchants. He then joined his father's business, of which he became a partner in 1867. After his father's death in 1887 White and his cousin William Chrystal became the sole partners in the Shawfield Chemical Works, which was the largest of its kind in the world and employed some 500 men in 1909. The main product was bichromate of potash. His nephew H. H. Barrett was later admitted a partner. At Rutherglen he constructed an institute for his workers, with baths, gymnasium and reading rooms, among other facilities.

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