Elizabeth Leitch Williamson was a Scottish distillery manager and former owner of the Laphroaig distillery noted for being the second woman to manage a Scotch whisky distillery, and the first during the 20th century.
11 Facts About Bessie Williamson
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Bessie Williamson is credited as being instrumental in promoting single malt whisky, in particular Islay malts and Laphroaig, during the then-emerging US trend for single malts.
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Bessie Williamson was born in Glasgow in 1910 the second child of Agnes Whyte and John Bessie Williamson, a mercantile clerk.
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Bessie Williamson attended the University of Glasgow from 1927, intending to become a teacher, graduating with an MA in 1932.
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In 1934, Bessie Williamson took a summer job as a shorthand typist at Laphroaig distillery, on Islay, intending to stay a few months.
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Bessie Williamson worked directly with then owner Ian Hunter, and eventually became office manager.
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When Hunter suffered a stroke in 1938, Bessie Williamson took on responsibility for distribution to the United States.
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Bessie Williamson is credited with being among the first to anticipate the coming trend for single malt scotches and to position the Laphroaig product, and by extension other Islay malts, to the American market.
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In 1962 Bessie Williamson sold a third of her business shares to Seager Evans and Co.
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Bessie Williamson continued as managing director of the distillery until her retirement in 1972.
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Bessie Williamson died at Gartnavel General Hospital in Glasgow on 26 May 1982.