LUNAN, William (1773-1854) — Aberdeen
Clock & watchmaker; instrument-maker. An electrical machine of about 1820, with a rotating globe, is attributed to Lunan by National Museums Scotland, although his father Charles Lunan (see below) is perhaps a more likely candidate. A brother, James Lunan (1788-1824), was also a clock and watchmaker in Aberdeen.
Baptised 31 Mar 1773 at St. Nicholas Aberdeen, the son of Charles Lunan (1743?-1816) and his wife Sarah Smith (1751?-1805). His father was a distinguished clock and watchmaker, “a man of uncommon shrewdness, intelligence, and native strength of mind, and from his inventive genius in mechanics much might have been expected had his powers received a more early culture, a circumstance which he often regretted during the latter part of his life. He has, however, left behind him many specimens of his ingenuity and of the accuracy with which he could execute the finest pieces of mechanism” (Edinburgh Evening Courant, 20 Jan 1816). William Lunan served in the Aberdeen Light Infantry Volunteers in 1799. Admitted into the Aberdeen Hammermen in 1800 and admitted Burgess in 1801. He was still active as a clockmaker in 1841, but had retired by 1851, appearing on census returns with Isabella Lunan (b.1774), seemingly a sister. He appears to have died in 1854 – the Thistle Street premises of the late William Lunan were to be sold by public roup 6 Dec 1854 (Aberdeen Press, 22 Nov 1854).
8 Castle Street, Aberdeen — 1824-1825
5 Thistle Street, Aberdeen — 1828-1832
12 Thistle Street, Aberdeen — 1833-1834
Thistle Street, Aberdeen — 1835-1854
BNA. Census 1841-1851. Clifton. Webster.