The Scottish Samurai
Thomas Blake Glover was a Scottish merchant adventurer from Aberdeen who helped shape modern Japan. Arriving in Nagasaki in the mid-19th century, Glover became a key figure in the country’s industrial revolution — importing ships, technology and knowledge at a time when Japan was opening to the world. He played a pivotal role in shipbuilding, mining and trade, and was closely connected to the early development of what would become Mitsubishi, helping lay the foundations of Japan’s modern industrial giants. In recognition of his contribution, he was awarded one of Japan’s highest honours, the Order of the Rising Sun — often referred to as the “Golden Star.”
The MacGregor Story
Now this is Scotland far beyond its shores. Glover didn’t stay home — he took that Northern spirit of ambition and resilience halfway across the world and made his mark where few Scots had gone before. In a time of huge change, he saw opportunity, built relationships, and helped shape a nation stepping into the modern age.
It’s a story that feels familiar. That idea that where you come from is your foundation — but not your limit. The same drive that built communities in the Highlands, that carried clans through hardship, is the same drive that sent Scots like Glover out into the world to build, trade and influence far beyond Scotland’s borders.
And that’s why his story belongs here. Because MacGregor’s isn’t just about where we’re from — it’s about where Scotland goes. The music, the culture, the people — they travel. They connect. They leave a mark. Just like Glover did, all those years ago, on the other side of the world.