Gideon Wishart was born on 20 November 1886 in Stow which is in the parish of Northmavine in the Shetland Islands. He was the eldest of five children of James Wishart, a local crofter and fisherman, and his wife, Agnes Mouat. When he was seven years old Gideon’s mother died while giving birth to his brother Angus and at the age of 14 he found work as a fish curer, however, he soon turned his gaze towards the sea and joined the Merchant Service.

During the war, he served onboard the SS Kassala before transferring to the Hospital Ship Plassey in 1915, and was probably present at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. He was awarded the British War and Mercantile Marine medals for his service.

On 19 November 1920 Gideon married Emmy Bruce in Symbister on the island of Whalsay and lived with her until she died in 1938, after which he remarried to Elizabeth Anderson Manson in 1944.

Gideon died at the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick on 19 September 1969.

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