John Spreul

John Spreul or Bass John was the apothecary in Glasgow. He got his nickname for being imprisoned on the Bass Rock for around 6 years. He was the "cousin" or close relation of the John Spreul (town clerk) who was also imprisoned on the Bass.

John's father, who was born in 1607, was Bailie John Spreull, merchant in Paisley. His father's family were descended from the Spreulls of Cowden. John's mother was Janet Alexander. She was the daughter of Bailie James Alexander, a Paisley merchant, and Janet Maxwell of Pollok. John was their second son. John first became an apothecary in Paisley and then later in Glasgow. He is also sometimes later called a merchant of Glasgow.

Spreul returned from Holland in order to take his wife and children to Rotterdam. On 12 November 1680, he was apprehended, and being brought before the Council, was examined, and afterwards put to the torture before a Committee of their number. Not getting him to confess what they desired by torturing him in the new boot, they sent for the old one, and tortured him over again; and being equally unsuccessful with it, Dalziel alleged that the hangman favoured him; upon which the hangman said, he struck with all his might, and bade him take the mallet himself to do it better. On 2 March 1681, Spreul was indicted before the High Court of Justiciary on the charge of treason and rebellion, for alleged accession to the insurrection at Bothwell Bridge. The proof, however, failed, and a verdict of not proven was returned by the jury. Upon this, instead of being liberated, he was still kept prisoner; and, on pretext of being present at field conventicles he was fined £500 sterling, and sent to the Bass, by an act of Privy Council, July 14, 1681. The order for transport is recorded as 16 August 1681. Here he continued for nearly six years. The act of Council for his liberation is dated 12 May 1687. He was the last prisoner who was released from the Bass. He survived the Glorious Revolution many years.

Later in life John Spreul was known for trade in pearls, especially Scottish pearls. A necklace made from his pearls was sold to Queen Anne. Spreul is also recorded as having a large fish processing operation where red herring was cured. This was at a site in Crawfurd's-dike on the east side of Greenock. John William Burns says in his preface that "Bass John took an active part in the politics of his day, and was one of the largest subscribers to the Darien Scheme." Alexander Shields, also a prisoner on the Bass, went as a preacher to Darien.

After his release Bass John took as motto on his crest the words, "Sub pondere cresco" which translates as "under weight I grow" or "I thrive under burdens". Agnes H. Bowie wrote a poem called The Martyr's Crest which is about John Spreul.

• Miscellaneous writings with some papers relating to his history, ... Spreull, John, 1646-1722
• An Accompt Current betwixt Scotland and England balanced ; together with an Essay of a Scheme of the Product of Scotland, as also a View of the several Products of the Ports or Nations we trade to. By J. S. Edinburgh. 1705
• Reasons against Imposing Prisedg Wines in Scotland
• The Age of the World
• …the Case of John Sproul…