Peter Denny

Peter Denny FRSE LLD (25 October 1821 – 22 August 1895) was a shipbuilder and shipowner based in Dumbarton, Scotland. Parents and education Denny was the son of William Denny (1779–1833) and his wife Christeanne Macintyre. He was first apprenticed to a local lawyer and then to the Dumbarton glassworks. Aged 21 he returned to shipbuilding, which was the established family occupation, and worked as a bookkeeper for Robert Napier and Sons. Career In 1844 Peter became a junior partner alongside his brothers in Denny Brothers. He was responsible for managing the offices in that business. In 1849 the company was dissolved and reformed as William Denny and Brothers. In partnership with John McAusland and John Tulloch, he formed a marine engineering company in 1850 (Tulloch and Denny). This complimented Denny's shipbuilding operations. William Denny died in June 1854 leaving Peter as the main partner in Dennys, while his other brother James retired in 1862. Tulloch also retired in 1862 and the engineering company was renamed Denny & Company. Denny appreciated that to succeed as a shipbuilder it was necessary to obtain orders and therefore involved himself in the shipping world. As a member of the Free Church of Scotland he contributed towards the Free Church settlement in New Zealand and came in contact with Paddy Henderson & Co. He became a partner in their shipping interests, resulting in orders for Denny's for new ships.