.Edinburgh’s New Town, with its grand neoclassical façades and orderly streets, was once home to some of Scotland’s most influential figures. Among them was Gilbert Innes of Stow, a banker, philanthropist, and one of the wealthiest men in Scotland. Yet, despite his immense fortune, Innes remains an enigma—a man as famous for his financial acumen as he was for his scandalous private life, whispered affairs, and secret patronage of the arts.
A Banker with an Eye for Wealth—and Women
Born in 1751 into a well-established family, Gilbert Innes became Deputy Governor of the Royal Bank of Scotland, wielding immense influence over Edinburgh’s financial world. His uncanny ability to generate wealth made him one of the richest men in the country, but it was his personal life that truly made him notorious.
Innes never married, but he certainly did not live the life of a solitary bachelor. He gained a reputation as one of Edinburgh’s most infamous womanisers, entertaining lovers and hosting extravagant parties at his St Andrew Square residence. Some claim he fathered an astonishing 67 illegitimate children, a number that, whether fact or legend, cemented his place in the city’s lore. When he died in 1832, claimants came crawling out of the woodwork, all eager to prove themselves as his rightful heirs, leading to chaos and dispute over his vast fortune.
The Secret Patron of the Arts
While many of his contemporaries flaunted their philanthropy, Innes operated in the shadows. He quietly funded struggling artists, musicians, and architectural projects that helped shape Edinburgh’s New Town. He was particularly passionate about music, funding concerts and orchestras that enriched the city’s cultural scene. His deep pockets ensured Edinburgh retained its status as an artistic powerhouse, though few knew the extent of his contributions at the time.
A Fortune That Vanished into Mystery
By the time of his death, Innes had amassed an eye-watering fortune. Yet, as with much of his life, mystery surrounded his wealth. Despite his vast assets, no great family dynasty carried his name forward. Some believe he made secret bequests to his many children, while others speculate that his fortune was squandered by less competent heirs. To this day, questions remain about where all his money truly went.
A Legacy of Intrigue and Influence
Unlike many of his era’s great financiers, Gilbert Innes left behind no grand monument—no towering statue or ostentatious plaque. Instead, he left behind stories: tales of lavish parties, scandalous affairs, whispered claims of inheritance, and quiet acts of generosity.
To walk through Edinburgh’s New Town today is to tread in his shadow—past the elegant buildings he helped finance, the concert halls that thrived because of him, and the grand townhouses where echoes of his escapades still linger.
Gilbert Innes of Stow may not have built a dynasty, but his legend endures, woven into the fabric of the city he both scandalised and shaped.
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