John Ramsay (of Kildalton)

John Ramsay (1736-1803) was a Scottish landowner and agricultural improver, known primarily for his innovations in distilling on the island of Islay. He was Laird of Kildalton, a significant estate in the southeast of Islay.

Ramsay is credited with establishing and popularizing the legal production of whisky on Islay during a period when illicit distilling was widespread. While distilling had existed previously on the island, Ramsay's efforts to operate a licensed distillery at Kildalton helped to establish a more organized and regulated whisky industry. He implemented modern (for the time) techniques and equipment to improve the quality and efficiency of whisky production.

His descendants continued to be involved in the whisky industry, further cementing the Ramsay family's legacy on Islay. Although the original Kildalton distillery no longer exists, Ramsay's pioneering role is recognised in the history of Scotch whisky production.