Lord Leverhulme (1851-1925)

In 1918 he bought the Isle of Lewis for £167,000. He renovated Lews Castle by extending the ballroom, installing electric lighting, central heating and numerous bathrooms and telephones.

In late 1919 bought the estate of South Harris for £36,000.

A wealthy and energetic industrialist, he had ambitions to bring industry to the islands on a large scale, but his efforts were not always well received.

In 1923 he gave Lewis to its inhabitants, concentrating his efforts on South Harris instead. With permission from the locals, the fishing village of Obbe was renamed Leverburgh.

Angus "Ease" Macleod wrote an assessment of Leverhulme's work.