Finlaison, John (1783–1860), civil servant and government actuary, was born on 27 August 1783 at Thurso, Caithness, the eldest son of Donald Finlayson (1761–1790), fisherman, who had six children, and his wife, Isobel Guthrie, née Sutherland (b. 1761). His parents were both Scottish. As a youth ...