Sir Peter Coats of Auchendrane (18 July 1808 – 9 March 1890) was a Scottish thread manufacturer and philanthropist. He was co-founder of the firm J & P Coats, which later evolved into Coats Group.
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Life
He was born in Paisley, the third son of James Coats and Catherine Mitchell, and is deeply associated with that town. He attended Paisley Grammar School and then the University of Glasgow, at first intending to study for as a minister. However he decided to follow his father as a thread manufacturer (largely in partnership with his younger brother Thomas Coats).
In 1850, he had a large mansion, Woodside House, built for him in Paisley. This was designed by Charles Wilson.
He was knighted in 1869.
Following his wife's death in 1877 he retired to Auchedrane near Maybole in Ayrshire. He is fondly remembered in Maybole.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1881. His proposers were Sir Daniel Macnee, Sir Archibald Geikie, Alexander Buchan and Robert Mackay Smith.