John Knox (philanthropist)

In 1784 he published A View of the British Empire, more especially Scotland, with some Proposals for the Improvement of that Country, the Extension of its Fisheries, and the Relief of the People.

Knox's ideas had been commended by a parliamentary committee on the Scottish fisheries in 1785, which also recommended that a limited liability company be formed to advance the scheme.

On his return the society gave him a gold medal for his work, which led to the publication of A Tour through the Highlands of Scotland and the Hebride Isles in MDCCLXXXVI (1787).

To meet the emergencies of war, Knox recommended that Great Britain should always hold two hundred thousand seamen in readiness.

[3] The British Fisheries Society did implement parts of Knox's schemes, building fishing facilities along the Scottish coast in Pulteneytown, Ullapool, Isle Ristol, Skye, Mull and other locations.