David Patterson (1837-1922)

Descendant of tenant farmers in Angus (Forfarshire), David worked in the woollen milling industry in great Britain, Newfoundland, and New Zealand. His last and probably greatest position was as manager of the Oamaru Woollen Factory Company's mill at Oamaru in North Otago, New Zealand, from May 1884 till January 1916. On 17 February 1916, the Oamaru Mail (as quoted in Spinning Yarns), said he was:
 * "endowed with a ripe experimental knowledge of woollen factory work as a proprietor and a keen commercial faculty. ... Having invested in shares and become personally interested in the infant industry, he threw the whole weight of his vigorous capacity and technical knowledge into his operations. ... As a result the shares rose steadily in value till they were selling at a considerable premium ... and it is a pleasant duty to pay a tribute to the able management which resulted in the permanent and solid establishment of an institution which has done so much for Oamaru. ..."