The Merchants` House Buildings (1874, John Burnet)
stands at the corner of George Square

The city`s Merchants` House formed an influential body
which played a pivotal role in helping Glasgow become `The Second City`.

Founded in the seventeenth century, it campaigned for the
deepening of the River Clyde and helped recruit troops to
quell the `rebellion` in America (to safeguard the important
tobacco trade). It also had an important role in local government
as the organisation was entitled to a great number of seats on
the city`s council. Although most of these privileges were swept
away in 1832, the last vestiges of their tenure in the
City Chambers ended only in 1975.