David White Finlay Finlay was born on 1 September 1840 to James Finlay (died 13/5/1849) and Isabella White. He had 4 brothers, John (1830-1854), Alexander (1833-1895), James (1836-1910) and William Neilson (1842-1903). John died aged 23 in Malta when on a trip to the Holy Land. Alexander was a Seascape Painter. James was a GP in Helensburgh when A J Cronin (writer of Dr. Finlay's Casbook) was in his youth in Helensburgh. In Aug 1878 in Marylebone, London David married Catherine Mary Thompson, daughter of the shipowner, Stephen Thompson. They had four sons and four daughters viz. Ronald Stephen (1879-1884), Brenda Mary (1880-1952),
John Finlay (poet) merits and defects which we look for in the early compositions of true genius". In 1808 Finlay published "Scottish Historical and Romantic Ballads, chiefly ancient, with Explanatory Notes and a Glossary", As the title indicates, the majority of the ballads were not his own composition, but Sir Walter Scott nevertheless wrote of the book: "The beauty of some imitations of the old Scottish ballads, with the good sense, learning, and modesty of the preliminary dissertations, must make all admirers of ancient lore regret the early loss of this accomplished young man". Finlay also published an edition of Blair's "Grave", wrote