Rory Reynolds: Generous offerings leave a lasting legacy in Capital

BY DONATING 10 million to the University of Edinburgh, JK Rowling has joined an elite group of philanthropists who create entire institutions with their vast fortunes.

William Fettes: Merchant and underwriter bequested 166,000 to establish Fettes College in 1870

George Heriot: The school opened as a hospital in 1659

James Donaldson: A 124,000 legacy paid for the building

The Harry Potter author's fund will create The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic near the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, named after her mother, who died suffering from MS at just 45.

The gesture harks back to the Victorian age when the city's industrialists gave their fortunes to those who could not afford healthcare or education.

Today, the Evening News looks at philanthropic gestures that have made the Capital what it is today.

Andrew Usher (1826-1898)

Whisky tycoon

USHER and his father, also Andrew, were pioneering whisky distillers often credited with being the first to blend whisky, thus broadening the appeal of the drink.

They remained based at Andrew (the elder's) home in West Nicolson Street, now The Peartree pub.

In 1896, Usher donated 100,000, the equivalent to just under 6 million today, to the City of Edinburgh, stipulating a "City Hall" would be built to "seat three thousand people".

He died two years later, 16 years before the building opened in 1914.

George Heriot (1563-1624)

Goldsmith

BORN in Gladsmuir, East Lothian, Heriot would follow his father into the goldsmith trade and set up a small "luckenbooth" close to St Giles' Cathedral.

He became convener of the goldsmith's guild and elected "burgess", or representative, of the city aged 24.

Heriot was married twice but had no known children at the time of his death and left the bulk of his estate, 23,600, 2.3m today, to establish a hospital for "faitherless bairns" in Edinburgh.

George Heriot's Hospital opened in 1659 and many free schools opened in the Capital in the 1830s.

William Fettes (1750-1836)

Merchant and underwriter

WILLIAM Fettes was born in 1750 and lived all of his life in the Capital. At 18, he opened a grocer and wine merchant's shop on the High Street.

After making his fortune trading tea during the Napoleonic Wars, he returned to settle in Stockbridge. He retired and became an underwriter, insuring bankers and other insurers.

Fettes became involved in many charities and served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1800 and 1805.

Like many contemporaries, he intended to found a hospital for those who had no access to healthcare but devoted his fortune to "the maintenance, education and outfit of young people". He bequested 166,000, 8.3m in today's money, to establish Fettes College near his home in 1870.

John Ritchie Findlay (1824-1898)

Newspaper publisher

FINDLAY was born in Arbroath but moved to Edinburgh to study at the city's university. After graduating he joined The Scotsman, founded by his great uncle in 1842, and was in charge of the paper by 1870.

During his tenure the paper's growth in circulation brought him great wealth, nearly all of which he would give away.

He would later become director of the Sick Children's Hospital and founded the Edinburgh Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor.

He gave the city the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, which opened in 1889 and cost around 70,000, 3.1m today. Findlay also donated his art collections to the National Gallery of Scotland.

James Donaldson (1751-1830)

Printer and publisher

BORN in Edinburgh, James Donaldson followed in his father's footsteps and went into the printing trade. His father was founder of the Edinburgh Advertiser but Donaldson would become best-known as being a bookseller.

He also became a burgess of the city and was known for his benevolence towards the homeless.

When he died he left his fortune to be used to build a large hospital designed by William Henry Playfair.

Donaldson's Hospital, later Donaldson's School for the Deaf, opened in 1850 with the 124,000 legacy left.

William McEwan (1827-1913)

Politician and brewer

MAKING his fortune from founding the Fountain Brewery in 1856, William McEwan's fortune would leave an imprint on the city until this day.

McEwan was born in Alloa and moved to the Capital to learn the brewing trade from his uncle. He would later serve as a Liberal MP for Edinburgh Central from 1886 to 1900.

He built the McEwan Hall for 115,000, 6.5m in modern currency, in 1897 and it has since become one of the city's most iconic buildings.

He retired to Surrey and bequeathed the Polesden Lacey estate to the National Trust when he died.