Curiosities of Glasgow citizenship

Short biographical notices of the principal merchants, manufacturers etc of Glasgow in 1783

CUNNINGHAM CORBETT

CUNNINGHAM CORBETT, of Tollcross, West India merchant and rum importer. The family of Corbetts held the estate of Tollcross for upwards of 500 years. Mr. Corbett was distinguished in Glasgow for his services in organizing the Glasgow Armed Association, composed chiefly of the shopkeeper class, and popularly known as the "Sugarallie Corps," whose aims and aspirations found description in the strains of Blind Alick, the street poet of the period, thus-

"We are the Glasgow Volunteers,
And we do receive no pay;
Colonel Corbett's our Commander,
And with him we'll fight our way.
Here's a health to Colonel Corbett,
And likewise to all his riflemen;
For when they do lay down the sword,
Then every one takes up a pen!"

Mr. Corbett was Bailie of Gorbals in 1784, and Chairman of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce in 1802 and 1803, of which body he was long an efficient director. He died in 1829. On the death of himself and his brother James of Porterfield, who died in 1825, the family on the male side became extinct. The estate was sold to James Dunlop of Garnkirk, and is now the property of his grandson, Mr. James Dunlop.