Born in Aberdeenshire in 1838, Thomas Blake Glover was a widely travelled merchant and a key figure in the industrialisation of Japan. Using material which has only recently become available, Michael Gardiner's biography of this remarkable man offers a balanced view of his legacy. Gardiner discusses his centrality to the modern system of Japanese government and the Japanese Imperial Navy, as well as to the growth of Mitsubishi, Kirin beer and communications between Japan and Scotland.