George Macintosh was born in 1739. A successful dyemaster, Macintosh established the manufacturer of cudbear (a vegetable dye obtained from lichen). He went into partnership with a French dyer, M. Papillon, to produce turkey red dyeing. With the help of his friend, David Dale, Macintosh opened a large dyeing works at Dalmarnock in Scotland. George Macintosh, the father of Charles Macintosh, died in 1807.