A Wee Bit O' Scottish History Online

These are interesting and valuable online resources for researching Scottish history:

Debate on the 1820 Uprising in the Scottish Parliament
The 1820 Rising (free ebook at Electric Scotland)
White Slavery, What the Scots Already Know
Why Scots Cursed the Damn Yankees
The Act Against Highland Dress
The Act of Proscription 1747
International Civic Heraldry (Scotland)
The Jacobite Heritage (extensive digital archives)
National Library of Scotland's Interactive Timeline of Scottish History
James VI and the Union of the Crowns (National Library of Scotland)

Slainte,
Dianne

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The 'Sanitization' of Scottish History

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'Scotland: The Shaping of a Nation' by Gordon Donaldson, ISBN 0 7153 6904 0, as well as his book 'Scottish Historical Documents'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

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Dr. Livingstone, I presume?

The Scottish explorer and pioneer medical missionary, David Livingstone, died on April 30, 1873 in Africa. (Some sources cite the date of death as May 1, but I obtained my information from the BBC Scotland in History , and I figure they would know best).

He was born on March 19, 1813, in the mill town of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland, into a Protestant family. He was trained as a medical missionary.

His work with the London Missionary Society fueled a British obsession for exploring central Africa and laid groundwork for the discovery of the source of the Nile river. He was the first European to see the famous Victoria Falls in southern Africa.

Livingstone's first assignment by the LMS began in 1841 in South Africa. From 1841 to 1856, he traveled extensively throughout southern and central Africa, becoming one of the few Westerners to make a transcontinental journey across Africa. By all accounts he was a successful representative of the LMS; he understood the ways of the village chiefs and did not force Christianity on them; he preached a Christian message, but let people come to Christianity in their own time.

In 1857, Livingstone, feeling that he had a higher calling as an explorer rather than as a missionary, resigned from the London Missionary Society. Funded by the British government, he returned to Africa as head of the Zambezi Expedition to examine the natural resources of southeastern Africa. This disastrous expedition lasted until 1864.

Sometime in the mid 1860's, Livingstone completely lost contact with the outside world. Interest in his adventures had kept him in the American newspapers and in 1869 the owners of The New York Herald hired Henry Morton Stanley to find Livingstone.

Stanley found Livingstone on November 10, 1871, in a village on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. On August 10, 1872, the editorial of the New York Herald read "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

For more information on David Livingstone click here.

Slainte,
Dianne

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The Battle of Dunbar (1296)

April 27, 1296.

John Balliol, King of the Scots, had renounced his allegiance to Edward, King of England (The Hammer of the Scots) at the beginning of April. In retribution, Edward sent one of his chief lieutenants, John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey, John Balliol's own father-in-law, northwards with a strong force of knights to invest the stronghold of the Earl of March's castle at Dunbar. March was with the English, but his wife, Marjory Comyn, sister of the Earl of Buchan, did not share her husband's political loyalties and allowed her fellow Scots to occupy the castle.

The defenders of the castle sent urgent messages to King John requesting assistance. Balliol sent troops but did not accompany them.

The English defeated the Scots with a single charge. There were about 100 Scottish lords, knights and men-at-arms taken prisoner during the battle and an unknown number of casualties.

On the following day, April 28, King Edward arrived and accepted the surrender of Dunbar Castle.

From the Wikipedia:
"John Balliol, in surrendering, submitted himself to a protracted abasement. At Kincardine Castle on 2 July he confessed to rebellion and prayed for forgiveness. Five days later in the kirkyard of Stracathro he abandoned the treaty with the French. The final humiliation came at Montrose on 8 July. Dressed for the occasion John was ceremoniously stripped of the vestments of royalty Antony Bek, the Bishop of Durham, ripped the red and gold arms of Scotland from his surcoat, thus bequeathing to history the nickname Toom Tabard (empty coat) by which John has been known to generations of Scottish schoolchildren. He and his son Edward were sent south into captivity. Soon after the English king followed, carrying in his train the Stone of Scone and other relics of Scottish nationhood."

For more information on the Battle of Dunbar (1296) click here.

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