Charles Merrylees
Charles Magnus Henderson Merrylees (b. 22 October 1843, Lerwick, d. 1 October 1911, Aberdeen) was a manager of the North of Scotland, Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation company, and Lerwick Town Councillor.
Biography
Charles joined the North of Scotland and Shetland Steam Navigation Company in 1858 becoming manager in Aberdeen for a period of at least 30 years. When his length of service had extended for 50 years, (from 1858 to February 1908), it was decided to present him with his portrait in oils and other gifts. The artist commissioned was Charles Martin Hardie, R.S.A. The jubilee celebrations for Charles were held in Aberdeen. In his speech he recalled that 50 years previously Shetland had one steamer per week carrying mails for eight months of the year and during the other four months the sail clipper Fairy delivered a mail about once in every 10 days. Eventually, there were four mails per week all the year round. Letters in those days cost 3d and 6d whilst the time taken in transmission was very uncertain. In Aberdeen passengers and cargo had often to be taken off in large boats to disembark,but the later steamers could comfortably enter and leave all states of the tide. Disembarking in Lerwick was similar until the Victoria Pier opened in 1886. Charles was the youngest son in a family of 11 children. He married Louisa Anne Umphray and their eldest son William who trained in Aberdeen came to Lerwick as agent when Mr William Shand retired. Charles devoted all his time to his business. His wife died on 18th November 1905 and his death followed in Aberdeen six years later at the age of 67.
His father, William, was also a Lerwick Town Councillor, and his nephew Thomas was a County Councillor.
