(1815 - 1895 )
James Powrie was the son of a Dundee merchant who succeeded to Reswallie Estate on his father's death in 1845. He was the author of several papers on the Old Red Sandstone, and was a noted collector of the Old Red Sandstone fossils. He was a fellow of the Geological Society of London, elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1865, a J.P. and Commissioner in Angus. In 1858 he was elected an Ordinary Member of the Literary and Philosophical Society of St. Andrews. His interests included archaeology, arboriculture and astronomy.
"A letter was read from Mr. Powrie asking permission to give to Professor Huxley for publication drawings of the fossils in the Societies museum lately procured from Dura Den, which had been made by Mr. Powrie's instructions but without the sanction of the Society.
Dr. Heddle having stated that he still intended to bring before the Society the paper on the Dura Den fossils, of which notice had been formerly given, and having requested leave to take such drawings of the specimens as should be necessary for his paper, leave was granted. The council further agreed that Mr. Powrie should have leave to make use of the drawings which he had obtained, on the understanding that they should not be used by him until a fortnight after the first ordinary meeting of the Society in November next."
Minutes of Occasional Meeting of Council of the Literary & Philosophical Society of St. Andrews, 30 April 1862