William was born 29 November 1837, in Scotland.
Allan had an eventful career. The son of a Dundee iron founder, he commenced his apprenticeship to engineering at the age of 10, and when this was completed, he emigrated to America. He returned to Glasgow, saw service in the Navy, and during the American Civil War was blockade running as chief engineer in a tramp steamer. After serving six weeks in the Old Capitol Prison at Washington, he was returned to Glasgow. Allan crossed the Border, was engaged in locomotive building at Carlisle, and then arrived in Sunderland. At the N. E. Marine Engineering Works, he rose to be General Manager, but left that. In 1886 he took over the works of Carr, Fowles and Company and reopened them as the Scotia Engine Works.
Allan, who was Knighted in the 1902 list of "Coronation Knights," introduced the Saturday half-holiday, and the eight-hour day. "Sandy" Allan by which name he was known in Sunderland, was a member of Parliament for several years, also author of several books on engineering, besides volumes of poetry and light reading.
The Scotia Works were later amalgamated with those of Richardson, Westgarth, and Company, and for some years were engaged in subsidiary work rather than building new marine engines.
