Stephen Mitchell first established a tobacco manufacturing business in Linlithgow in Scotland in 1723. His great grandson, also Stephen Mitchell (1789–1874), was born in Linlithgow on 19 September 1789. On the death of his own father (the founder's grandson) in 1820 Stephen continued the family business, transferring it in 1825 to Candleriggs in Glasgow. In 1832 the business moved again, to St Andrew's Square. The tobacco business finally merged with W. D. & H. O. Wills in 1901. Wills then amalgamated with other tobacco companies to become the Imperial Tobacco Company.