Michael T Tracy

An Innkeeper of Cupar Michael T Tracy

The future innkeeper and builder of Cupar's largest hotel establishment was born in humble circumstances on Tuesday, 16 April 1816 at Feddinch in Cameron Parish to Thomas Buist and Elizabeth Christie. In his early youth, he relocated to Cunnoquhie, Monimail Parish, Fifeshire where he worked as a butler. He met and later married Boswell Angus on Friday, 27 April 1838 at Cupar. After his marriage, John Buist relocated to Cupar where he began a small grocery business and later began operating the Albert Inn which he would purchase. John Buist would later lease the Royal Hotel and operate this hotel for 22 years. Additionally, Buist would also lease the Tontine Hotel on Catherine Street in which he also was the innkeeper. He was known to supply the best quality and his uniform civility and obliging manner commanded the respect of his customers. The Tontine Hotel was Cupar's largest hotel establishment in the area and Buist would later re-build the hotel and after 20 years he would retire from the hotel business. He had a passion for horses and purchased many breeds as a Fife horse dealer. John Buist would later purchase Tailabout farm outside of Cupar where he raised his horses and where he eventually retired to. This then is the narrative of the life and times of John Buist, an innkeeper of Cupar.