Greenock
The coast of Greenock formed a broad bay with three smaller indentations: the Bay of Quick was known as a safe anchorage as far back as 1164. To its east, a sandy bay ran eastwards from the Old Kirk and the West Burn as far as Wester Greenock castle. The fishing village of Greenock developed along this bay, and around 1635 Sir John Schaw had a jetty built into the bay which became known as Sir John's Bay. In that year he obtained a Charter raising Greenock to a Burgh of Barony with rights to a weekly market. Further east, Saint Laurence Bay curved round past the Crawfurd Barony of Easter Greenock to Garvel (or Gravel) Point. When a pier (or dyke) was built making the bay an important harbour, the fishing village of Cartsburn gained the alternative name of Crawfurdsdyke. In 1642 it was made into the Burgh of Barony of Crawfurdsdyke, and part of the ill-fated Darien Scheme set out from this pier in 1697. This town was later renamed Cartsdyke.
Sir John Shaw, 3rd Baronet
Shaw's various family properties at Greenock, Renfrewshire, Sauchie, Clackmannanshire; and Carnock Stirlingshire gave him several options for a parliamentary seat at the 1708 general election, and he chose to stand for Renfrewshire. He was returned unopposed as Member of Parliament for Renfrewshire. He and his fellow citizens raised their own funds to build Greenock Harbour, and the work was completed in 1710, with quays extended out into Sir John's Bay to enclose the harbour. Shaw did not stand at the 1710 and 1713 general elections, but he continued fight for better regulation of customs in western Scotland.