 Under his leadership the business expanded, moving into cotton manufacturing with the purchase of the Ballindalloch Works in 1798, the Catrine Mills in 1801 and the Deanston Mills in 1806..They became the largest textile concern in Scotland and the first British merchant to trade directly with India (1816).Whilst developing James Finlay & Co. into the leading merchant firm of its time he also led a very active public life.