Tiring of field and flock, in 1768 he moved to Edinburgh, where he founded a successful business producing sal ammoniac from coal soot, and busied himself with various scientific pursuits.

1768年，他对土地和羊群感到厌倦，迁到了爱丁堡。他建立了一家很成功的企业，用煤烟生产氯化铵，同时忙于各种科学研究。