The Key-Man

All the versions or interpretations concerning the origins of the

Golden Retriever

have in common, a reference to    Lord Tweedmouth .

 

 This half Scottish, half English noble lived in the 19th Century, and from 1884 his principal residance was GUISACHAN House, close to the famous LOCH NESS and its equally famous monster. which otherwise, seems not to have played any part in the creation of the first Golden Retrievers.

All around this "house" he constructed numerous buildings, which today form the village of TOMICH, although the principal building was later destroyed by fire.

 

Lord Tweedmouths civil name was Dudley Coutts MARJORIBANKS, before his rising to peerage in 1881 - recompense for his work in developing the region - and receiving the title of SIR.

  This man, whom it would appear, even for the middle of the 19th Century, was said to be "rolling in it",,had a passion for breeding, be it for cattle or horses,( particularly Scottish ponies) and also for hunting. What would have been more natural than to apply his knowledge and competence to the breeding of dogs.

 

He and his wife Isobel, had three children, all of whom, in one way or another were closely involved, both with the creation of the Golden Retriever and the expansion of this breed.

Edward, the first son, who inherited the Tweedmouth name and estate, received a puppy from the first known litter.

Archie, the second son, appears on a photograph with a Golden in 1891 at Rocking Chair Ranch (Texas)

 

 Tweedmouths daughter, Ishbel Marie, married the earl of Aberdeen in 1877 and imported Golden Retrievers into Canada where her husband was her husband was Govenor General.

 

  The memory of Lord Tweedmouth is honoured by the enormous popularity of the breed and also by a moument erected at TOMICH.

  To the memory of Sir Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, 1st Lord of Tweedmouth, born 29th December 1820, died 4th March 1894, who lived at Guisachan from 1854 until his death, who built the village of Tomich and whose passion was the discovery and development of the district, and also to the memory of Isabel, Lady Tweedmoth, who was a mother to all those on the estate of Guisachan from 1854 to 1905 .This fountain is erected by their children Edward 2nd Lord Tweedmouth and Ishbel Countess of Aberdeen.""

Above the monument is the inscription "Advantage with Courage." The right side bore a sculpted portrait of Lord Tweedmouth, the left side Lady Tweedmouth's likeness. A sculpted canine head is just beneath each portrait.