Water, Water Everywhere

Sir Richard Wallace was born in 1818 to Mrs Agnes Jackson, the illegitimate son of the 4th Marquess of Hertford. The Marquess denied his paternity – such an admission would have scandalized 19th century society – and in 1842 Richard honoured his Scottish mother by adopting her maiden surname, Wallace. Richard was brought up in Paris by his grandmother, he then entered his father's employment, serving as his business assistant and advisor until his death in 1870. Due to his illegitimacy, Richard could not inherit his father's title (which passed to a distant cousin, since the Marquess died a bachelor and left no legitimate heir), but he was left much of his father's property and lands, as well as his art collection, which Richard continued to expand throughout the remainder of his life, gaining a reputation as one of 19th Century Europe's foremost art collectors, as well as a great philanthropist.

Having been denied his father's title, Wallace's munificence earned him ennoblement in his own right. He was well known for his many generous donations to charitable causes, and in 1871, shortly after his marriage, was created Baronet in recognition of his work. Wallace came into his fortune at a turbulent time for his adopted home of Paris. The Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871 and the uprising of the Paris Commune left the city damaged, and many Parisians destitute. The destruction of many of the city's aqueducts by Prussian forces while the city was under siege left the city's poor without free access to drinking water. Wallace, acutely aware of the responsibility that came with his newfound wealth, resolved to assist. To this end, he commissioned dozens of public fountains for the city, providing free, clean drinking water to rich and poor alike. As a man of refined tastes, he wished the fountains to be beautiful as well as functional. He produced the original sketches himself, aiming for utility, economy, durability and aesthetics, and contracted the renowned sculptor Charles-Auguste Lebourg to improve on his designs and get the project underway as quickly as possible. The first was opened in September of 1871, with the approval and assistance of the city's government, fountains were soon unveiled in the city's busiest thoroughfares and public spaces.

Many of these "Wallace Fountains", cast-iron sculptures in the Grecian style, are still to be found in Paris, and still serve their original purpose, providing a source of free, clean drinking water to the city's homeless. They have also become famous city landmarks, and internationally recognized symbols of Paris.

Sir Richard devoted much of his life to good works and public causes, as well as expanding the already substantial art collection he inherited from his father, after the tragic death of his son Edmond in 1887, he retired to his château on the outskirts of Paris, where three years later he himself died. He was buried at the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, the final resting place of such notable figures as Oscar Wilde, the composers Chopin and Rossini, and the painter Pissaro and, more recently, the singers Jim Morrison and Édith Piaf.

Sir Richard's widow bequeathed his collection of artworks to the United Kingdom, in memory of his ancestral homeland and the Wallace Collection is now on permanent display in London, free of charge to all visitors. Art lovers can see, in the museum's 25 galleries, the paintings, porcelain and furniture Sir Richard inherited from his father, as well as the priceless additions of renaissance and mediaeval artwork he added to the collection.

Scotland and France

The history of cordial relations between Scotland and France goes back to the middle ages, when an agreement known to the French as La Vieille Alliance, and familiar to Scots as The Auld Alliance was struck in Paris in 1295 between Kings Philip the Fair of France and John Balliol of Scots. First and foremost, the alliance was a military one, in an age when the borders of Europe's kingdoms were hotly disputed, and intermittent warfare between neighbouring states was a fact of life. Scots soldiers and mercenaries fought valiantly on the side of the French during The Hundred Years' War and gained high praise and honour. Charles VII formed the elite Garde Écossaise (Scots Guard) to serve as the personal bodyguard to the Kings of France, and serve alongside Joan of Arc in her campaigns.

The alliance brought trading benefits as well, with Scottish merchants getting the pick of the finest French wines, representing one of the most valuable commodities in the economy of the day.

The strength of the Franco-Scots alliance was again confirmed in 1537, when King James V of Scots was married to Madeleine de Valois, daughter of Francis I of France, cementing the connection between the French and Scots royal houses by bonds of kinship. Tragically, the marriage was short-lived: Madeline died of tuberculosis within a few months, and was buried at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh. James took another French noblewoman, Mary of Guise, for his second wife when his marriage proposal was accepted over that of Henry VIII of England. Mary of Guise went on to become one of the most powerful women in Scottish political history.

When her husband James V died in 1542, he left no surviving male heirs, and their daughter Mary was only six days old. Until the infant Queen grew to maturity, she was raised in France, while her kingdom was governed in her stead by regent. When Mary, Queen of Scots, returned from France to claim her throne, it was as Mary Stuart, having Gallicised the spelling of Stewart, and it was as Stuarts that her descedents ruled both Scotland and England until 1688.

Relations between Scotland and France remain healthy to this day. As a near neighbour and EU partner, France is one of Scotland's major destinations for overseas trade, and our third largest export market. Visitors from France are also an important part of our tourism sector. French companies are also expanding in Scotland, creating jobs and strengthening international relations. French banking giant BNP Paribas recently announced an expansion of its Scottish operations that will create up to 370 new jobs in its new Scottish headquarters in Glasgow, and in Dundee. The Head of BNP Paribas Securities Services UK, commented, "We have long established relationships with asset managers in Scotland and anticipate strong growth in our business in the coming years. This will enable us to support growth in our operations centres in Glasgow and Dundee, accessing the local markets which are rich in talent."

Sir Richard Wallace's ambition to supply clean, safe drinking water is also being carried on in Scotland. Scottish engineering companies, such as Weir Clear Liquids Division and Clyde Pumps, are world leaders in the manufacture and supply of equipment to the hydroengineering industry, with products in use across the globe in areas such as water supply, waste water management, and desalination. Their expertise is vital in many parts of the world where reliable supplies of safe drinking water still cannot be taken for granted.