David Dale was a Scottish merchant and cotton-master who became an eminent philanthropist. He is particularly remembered for establishing the progressive, yet highly profitable weaving community of New Lanark. Born in Ayrshire, Dale was apprenticed to a Paisley weaver. He moved to Glasgow in 1763 and established himself as a minor textile merchant. Soon he became a bigger player in the industry, and, in 1784, he founded the cotton mills in New Lanark, which became the largest cotton spinning mills in Britain. However, they were more than a business enterprise. Dale treated his workers exceptionally well and introduced an education scheme for the children who worked in his mills. This medallion was made in 1791, at the height of Dale’s success.