"On Tuesday afternoon, Mr. James Buist, Kirktonbarns, was entertained to dinner in the hall of the Royal Hotel, on occasion of his retirement from active business as a farmer...In proposing the toast of the evening, the Chairman said 'Croupiers and Gentlemen, I now call upon you to drink to the health of a much-respected guest. To the retirement of Mr. Buist from the scene of farming is like the removal of an ancient landmark. Few have been the days during that long period in which the tall form has not been seen stalking across his fields with his weedock in his hand and his weather hat on his head.'" Thus ran the front page of the Fifeshire Journal Newspaper for Thursday, 29 September 1870 giving a small glimpse of the accomplished Fife farmer, businessman, investor, and benefactor one James Buist, Esquire. This then is the narrative of the life and times of James Buist.