Famous Scots

This is a very extensive list produced by Edinburgh University Geography Department. There is a long list of biographies at the Edinburgh District Council list of Famous Edinburghers including, amongst many others, Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, and the architects Robert Adam and William Henry Playfair. The story of the builder of Georgian Stirling between the years 1806 and 1829, Alexander Bowie, has been researched via the Internet and through the genealogy newsgroups descendants have been contacted in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Scotland.

The US Senate has approved 6th April to be National Tartan Day in recognition of the monumental achievements and invaluable contributions made by Scottish Americans. This excellent web page gives details of the event, the Influence of Scotland on America and brief biographies of Great American Scots.

The U.S. SCOTS "Online Famous Scots" page has a long list of famous Scots, with brief notes on each.

Major General Hector Macdonald a crofter's son, rose from private to major-general and fought in the Afghan and Boer Wars. He saved the British Army from destruction at the Battle of Omdurman.

Sir James W Black was the winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1988.

The Law Society of Scotland lists a selection of Famous Scots Lawyers

Sir Henry Pottinger was born in Ireland, but a descendant from the Orkney stock. He bacame the first governor of Hong Kong.

Famous and Not So Famous Scots(The less well known)

J K Gillon has a miscellany of articles about various historical people including:

• George Bennie - his Rail Plane was ahead of its time.
• Joseph Kaufmann - a mechanical engineer from Glasgow, who designed a steam-powered flying machine in 1867
• James Tytler - and the Grand Edinburgh Fire Balloon
• Robert Barclay Allardice - a Celebrated Long Distance Walker from around 1800.
• Charles Rennie MacKintosh - and the Glasgow School of Art.
• James Graham - around 1780 he treated patients with his imposing and elaborate electrical machines.
• Hawkie - a celebrated Glasgow street character during the first half of the 19th century.
• John Henry Anderson - the Great Wizard of the North, a 19th century magician.
• Lord Monboddo - a respected but eccentric judge.

• Lewis Grassic Gibbon wrote the classic "Sunset Song" about this part of the country.
• Annie Lennox the singer. (Annie Lennox also has another site dedicated to this world famous performer).
• Bill Kirton crime writer.
• David Macleod Buster Keaton biographer.
• Bram Stoker the author of "Dracula" was not an Aberdonian but the cliffs at Cruden Bay are said to have been part of his inspiration.

Glaswegian Hall of Fame

Glasgow probably deserves a section all to its self. the industrial powerhouse of the world at one time, the following collection shows just what the city offered the world.Brief biographies of many of Glasgow's sons and daughters including:

• Robert Adam
• John Anderson
• Henry Bell
• James Baird
• Joseph Black
• J J Burnet
• Sir William Burrell
• Andrew Cochrane
• Miss Kate Cranston
• William Cunninghame
• David Dale
• Robert Dinwiddie
  • William Dixon
  • John Glassford
  • Thomas Graham
  • David Hamilton
  • William Hunter
  • The Hutchesons
  • Joseph Lister
  • Charles Rennie Mackintosh
  • William Miller
  • The Napiers
  • Allan Pinkerton
    
    • Sir William Ramsay
    • James Ritchie
    • Alex Spiers
    • J Sellars
    • Adam Smith
    • William Smith
    • Alexander Thomson
    • William Thomson
    • James Watt
    • Charles Wilson
    • James Young
      

      The personal favourites
      
      

      Chic Murray

      This site has a brief biography and a good sample of Chic's unique humour, which speaks volumes about the man himself.

      Evelyn Glennie

      An official site, there is a biography, concert schedule, photo gallery, press cuttings, awards and charity involvement and scholarships available to children with hearing loss, residing in the USA

      Bill Shankly

      It was Bill Shankly who said "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that". This Web site is dedicated to his life and times both as a player and as a manager. Shankly was also famous for other classic quotes and random samples are displayed on the home page - it is worth going back to see such gems as "The trouble with referees is that they know the rules but they don't know the game"

      Sean Connery

      This site to the popular movie star contains his biography (born in Edinburgh in 1930), pictures, list of movies he has appeared in, multimedia clips (some extremely large) and links to other Sean Connery pages on the Net. Note that there is also a brief Sean Connery biography at the Cambridge Biographical Encyclopaedia.

      Rod Stewart

      An official Warner Brothers site, there is a detailed review of his latest CD's plus tour information (if any) and how to join the official fan club.

      Robert Carlyle

      Robert Carlyle has appeared in films as diverse as Trainspotting, Priest, Riff-Raff, Go Now, Being Human, Carla's Song, Face and The Full Monty. More recent films have been Looking After Jo-Jo, Plunkett & Maclean, Ravenous and Poor Things. The site provides film reviews, links, photos, and an FAQ. There is a web site dedicated to one of his TV characters Hamish Macbeth with information on joining the Hamish-L discussion list, who's who in Lochdubh and a guide to Plockton, the location for this popular TV series.