Editing Macgregor Laird (section)

== Early life ==
Laird was born at [[Greenock]], the younger son of Agnes and [[William Laird (shipbuilder)|William Laird]], founder of the [[Birkenhead]] firm of shipbuilders of that name.<ref name=TimesAnthology>{{cite book | title=The Times: An Anthology | editor=Alderton Pink | publisher=Macmillan and Co | year=1933 | url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.86156/ }}</ref> 

His paternal grandfather, John Laird, was a merchant and rope maker in Greenock while his maternal grandfather, Gregor Macgregor, had commanded a ship that undertook voyages between Greenock and the [[British West Indies|West Indies]]. Laird's brother, [[John Laird (shipbuilder)|John]] was himself a notable shipbuilder. Laird was educated at [[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh University]].<ref name=TimesAnthology /> 

In 1829, while at the university, he fell ill, caused by [[typhus]] infection. He was helped to recovery by Dr Thomas Briggs, who later accompanied Laird in the expedition to the Niger.{{cn|date=January 2023}}

After graduation, Laird joined the family business in Birkenhead, where he developed an interest in building steamships.{{Sfn|Tanner|1978|pp=5–6}}<ref name=TimesAnthology />