Warning: if you are offended by educated opinions , you should stop reading right now.
Michael Follon is the author of the excellent blog "The 'Sanitization' of Scottish History". His posts are sharp, thoughtful, articulate and very informative. He has shared with me some of his favorite books on Scottish history, and I would like to pass them along to you:
'WILLIAM WALLACE' by Andrew Fisher, ISBN 0 85976 557 1
'Scotland: The Shaping of a Nation' by Gordon Donaldson, ISBN 0 7153 6904 0, as well as his book 'Scottish Historical Documents'
'The Scottish Insurrection of 1820' by Peter Berresford Ellis and Seumas Mac A'Ghobhainn, ISBN 0 85976 519 9.
From the Preface to the 1989 edition:
'At that time [prior to publication] people were astounded that such an event, resulting in 85 indictments of High Treason, in public executions, in transportations and imprisonments, could have been so effectively eliminated from historical consciousness.'
From the Preface to the 2001 edition:
'the fact that it was an aim of the Scottish Radicals to set up a separate parliament in Edinburgh has been met with skeptical posturing. Yet this was clearly spelt out by Glasgow Police Chief, James Mitchell, in his letters to the Home Secretary, Lord Sidmouth, of March 18 and 29 1820.
and on p.97 -In 1812 the United States had, frustrated by continued English interference in American affairs, restriction of American trade, interference in American freedom of movement and economic policies, declared war on England. The war ended on January 8, 1815, when the Americans won a decisive victory over the English forces. Scotsmen were still considered persona grata with Americans and not really regarded as nationals of the country with which they were at war. Jeffrey [Francis], in fact, was received and entertained by Munroe, the Secretary of State, and even lunched with President Madison, with whom he had a number of discussions on Scottish problems.
''Independent and Free: Scottish Politics and the Origins of the Scottish National Party, 1918-1945' by Richard J Finlay, ISBN 0-85976-399-4.
This book traces the development of the Scottish national movement in the first half of the twentieth century.
If you want a true view of Scottish history, visit The 'Sanitization' of Scottish History'.
Slainte,
Dianne
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The 'Sanitization' of Scottish History
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Scottish Trivia
A Scot, James Watt, developed the first efficient steam engine and in so doing started the Industrial Revolution.
A Scot, John Logie Baird, invented the Television.
A Scot, John Napier, invented logarithms and the decimal notation.
A Scot, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, invented the bicycle.
A Scot, John Paul Jones, founded the American Navy.
A Scot, Alexander Fleming, discovered Penicillin.
A Scot, William Paterson, founded the Bank of England.
A Scot, Alexander Graham Bell, invented the telephone.
A Scot, John Chalmers, invented the adhesive postage stamp.
A Scot, John Boyd Dunlop, invented the car tire.
A Scot, Captain Patrick Ferguson, invented the breech loading rifle (the Ferguson Rifle).
A Scot, Sir John Alexander Macdonald, was the first Prime Minister of Canada under confederation.
A Scot, Thomas Blake Glover, was one of the founding fathers of modern Japan.
A Scot, Henry Faulds pioneered the use of fingerprints as means of undisputed identity of people.
A Scot, Robert Stirling, invented the Stirling engine in 1850. Stirling engines are being studied at NASA for use in powering space vehicles with solar energy!
The Scots invented Golf.
“History credits the Rev. Elijah Craig, a Baptist minister, with being the first in 1789 to make bourbon.” He was a Scotsman. Kentucky is the place for bourbon because of the limestone which makes the water almost iron-free. “The first bourbon recognized by brand outside of Kentucky probably was produced by Dr. James Crow...a Scotsman who settled near the Rev. Craig’s place.” He was known by the locals as Jim Crow.
The Scottish-American Hall of Fame contains more plaques for the military than any other category. Twenty-one men are installed including Daniel Boone who is listed as an “Indian Fighter.”
The list is as follows:
George Rogers Clark, Frontier hero of the Revolutionary War
Stonewall Jackson
Joseph E. Johnston
Henry Knox, (Maine)
Arthur MacArthur, army general, father of Douglas MacArthur
George B. McClellan
Alexander Macomb, general and hero of the War of 1812
George S. Patton, WWII exponent of mobile warfare
J.E.B. Stuart, Confederate cavalry general
Christopher “Kit” Carson, frontiersman and explorer
William Clark, explorer with Merriwether Lewis
Davy Crockett, frontiers-man who died at the Alamo
Two individuals are listed under the category of “Naval.” They are David Glasgow Farragut, Civil War naval hero, and John Paul Jones, Revolutionary War naval hero
Scottish Freemasonry is now officially recognised as being the oldest in the world and is now recorded as a Guinness World Record.
Scotsman Albert Thurston invented modern suspenders.
Although the Scots comprise less than one-half of 1 percent of the world’s population, 11 percent of all Nobel prizes have been awarded to Scotsmen. Quote from "The Mark of the Scots" by Duncan A Bruce.
The world’s first university faculty of engineering and technical science was in Glasgow.
67 US Politicians were born in Scotland that we know of.
There are estimated to be 20,000 Americans living in Scotland and half a million visit each year.
It is estimated that 15% of Canadians are of Scots descent.
Scotland invented branch banking and so brought banking facilities to the people and the world.
Scots emigres to the US are five times more likely to become dollar millionaires than those from any other country, according to a study of wealth. Thomas Stanley and William Danko, in their book The Millionaire Next Door, analysed the ethnic backgrounds of the wealthiest members of US society and discovered that while people of Scottish origin make up 1.7% of the population, they comprise 9.3% of its millionaires.
Slainte,
Dianne
Monday, April 21, 2008
John Muir
April 21, 1838. John Muir, the Scottish American naturalist, was born in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland. His family emigrated to the US in 1849, settling in Wisconsin.
Muir was responsible for the creation of Yosemite and Sequoia national parks in California and was the founder of the Sierra Club, a national conservation organization. The 550-acre Muir Woods National Monument is named after him. He is considered by many to be the father of the American environmental movement.
See more about John Muir and his work here and here.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Scottish American Patriots
On September 3, 1651, William Munro, a Scotsman, was captured at the Battle of Worcester. This battle proved to be the final conflict of the English Civil War. Cromwell and his New Model Army defeated the mostly Scottish Royalist Army of King Charles II.
The Battle of Worcester was fought by a nation in arms; citizen soldiers who believed in their cause and who were willing to die for their freedom.
William was transported as an indentured laborer to the colony of New England. He settled in Lexington, Massachusetts. Over the course of his life he married three times, had 14 children, was eventually made a freeman, purchased several tracts of land, and was the proprietor of Munroe's Tavern.
On April 19, 1775, William's descendant, also named William, was an orderly sergeant of Captain John Parker's Lexington militia company and like his ancestor, also the proprietor of Munroe's Tavern, which was now used as the meeting place for the town militia unit. This unit, composed of 75 citizen soldiers, had been mustered in the pre-dawn hours to await the arrival of British troops.
Just as the sun rose over Lexington Green, the patriots could hear the marching cadence of the British soldiers. Nobody knows with absolute certainty who fired first, but the "shot heard 'round the world" has long been considered to be the beginning of the American Revolution.
Munroe men made up almost 10% of the Lexington militia. Scottish Americans. Patriots. Citizen Soldiers.
One of the first to die for American freedom at the Battle of Lexington Green on April 19, 1775 was a man named Robert Munro, descendant of William Munro, Scotsman. Patriot. Citizen Soldier.
More information on the Battle of Worcester can be found here. Click here for information about Patriot's Day.
Sphere: Related ContentWednesday, April 9, 2008
Tartan Day Speech
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Tartan Day Photos
Saturday, April 5, 2008
National Tartan Day 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Americans of Scottish descent have made enduring contributions to our Nation with their hard work, faith, and values. On National Tartan Day, we celebrate the spirit and character of Scottish Americans and recognize their many contributions to our culture and our way of life.
Scotland and the United States have long shared ties of family and friendship, and many of our country's most cherished customs and ideals first grew to maturity on Scotland's soil. The Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence signed in 1320, embodied the Scots' strong dedication to liberty, and the Scots brought that tradition of freedom with them to the New World. Sons and daughters of many Scottish clans were among the first immigrants to settle in America, and their determination and optimism helped build our Nation's character. Several of our Founding Fathers were of Scottish descent, as have been many Presidents and Justices of the United States Supreme Court. Many Scottish Americans, such as Andrew Carnegie, were great philanthropists, founding and supporting numerous scientific, educational, and civic institutions. From the evocative sounds of the bagpipes to the great sport of golf, the Scots have also left an indelible mark on American culture.
National Tartan Day is an opportunity to celebrate all Americans who claim Scottish ancestry, and we are especially grateful for the service in our Armed Forces of Scottish Americans who have answered the call to protect our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 6, 2008, as National Tartan Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day by celebrating the continued friendship between the people of Scotland and the United States and by recognizing the contributions of Scottish Americans to our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.
GEORGE W. BUSH
Go to the official White House Press Release.
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