|
Highland Games - A Brief History
When celebrating in times of peace, one of the Highlanders' favorite pastimes was the tainchel. This "great hunt" often included several clans that would venture out into the mountains and begin driving the red deer and other animals into a gradually tightening circle. Soon the animals were driven off the mountains and through the passes where the waiting armed huntsmen would make the kills.
After such a successful hunt, a great feast and celebration would follow. The rival clansmen would relax by testing each other's prowess at various sports — such as running, jumping, wrestling or primitive forms of weight putting with stones — and enjoy piping and dancing to demonstrate their agility. These relaxations were, in effect, the forerunners of the modern Highland games.
Are you Scottish? - Try the Official Scottish Genealogy Search.
Do you have an Scottish name? Here are the most common Scottish last names:
Booth
Burns
Campbell
Fraser
Robertson
MacGregor
McDonald
MacPherson
McEwan
Wallace
Famous Poems
Wha’s Like Us, Damn Few an’ they’re a’ Died
The average Englishman in the home he call his castle slips into his national costume, a shabby raincoat, patented by Chemist Charles Macintosh from Glasgow, Scotland.
En-route to his office he strides along the English lane, surfaced by John Macadam of Ayr, Scotland.
He drives an English car fitted with tyres invented by John Boyd Dunlop, Veterinary Surgeon of Dreghorn, Scotland.
At the office he receives the mail bearing adhesive stamps invented by John Chalmers, Bookseller and Printer of Dundee, Scotland.
During the day he uses the telephone invented by Alexander Graham Bell, born in Edinburgh, Scotland. At home in the evening his daughter pedals her bicycle invented by Kirkpatrick Macmillan, Blacksmith of Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
He watches the news on television, an invention of John Logie Baird of Helensburgh, Scotland, and hears an item about the U.S. Navy founded by John Paul Jones of Kirkbean, Scotland.
Nowhere can an Englishman turn to escape the ingenuity of the Scots.
He has by now been reminded too much of Scotland and in desperation he picks up the Bible, only to find that the first man mentioned in the good book is a Scot, King James VI, who authorized its translation.
He could take to drink but the Scots make the best in the world.
He could take a rifle and end it all, but the breech-loading rifle was invented by Captain Patrick Ferguson of Pitfours, Scotland.
If he escaped death, he could find himself on an operating table injected with penicillin, discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming of Darvel, Scotland, and given chloroform, an anesthetic discovered by Sir James Young Simpson, Obstetrician and Gynecologist of Bathgate, Scotland.
Out of the anesthetic he would find no comfort in learning that he was as safe as the Bank of England founded by William Paterson of Dumfries, Scotland.
Perhaps his only remaining hope would be to get a transfusion of guid Scottish blood which would entitle him to ask:
"Wha's Like Us?"
Famous Scots and Scottish Americans:
Robert Burns (Jan. 25, 1759 – July 21, 1796, also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favorite son, the Ploughman Poet, the Bard of Ayrshire and The Bard) was a poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best-known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a 'light' Scots dialect, which was accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these pieces, his political or civil commentary is often at its most blunt.
Burns is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic Movement, and after his death, he became an important source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism. A cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish Diaspora around the world, celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature.
As well as making original compositions, Burns also collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them. His poem (and song) Auld Lang Syne is often sung at Hogmanay (New Year), and Scots Wha Hae served for many years as an unofficial national anthem of the country. Other poems and songs of Burns, that remain well-known across the world today, include A Red, Red Rose, A Man's A Man for A' That, To a Louse, To a Mouse, The Battle of Sherramuir and Ae Fond Kiss.
Return to list of famous Scots and Scottish Americans
Sir William Wallace (c. 1272-76 – August 1305) was a Scottish knight, landowner and patriot who is renowned for leading a resistance during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
Along with Andrew Moray, he defeated an English army at Stirling and became Guardian of Scotland, serving until his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk. After several years in hiding, Wallace was eventually found in Scotland and handed over to Edward I of England, who had him executed for treason.
Wallace was the inspiration for the poem, The Acts and Deeds of Sir William Wallace, Knight of Elderslie, by the 15th-century minstrel, Blind Harry and the 1995 film Braveheart.
Return to list of famous Scots and Scottish Americans
Robert I, King of Scots (July 11, 1274 – June 7, 1329) usually known in modern English as Robert the Bruce (Mediaeval Gaelic:Roibert a Briuis; modern Scottish Gaelic: Raibeart Bruis; Norman French: Robert de Brus or Robert de Bruys; ), was King of the Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329.
Although his paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage (originating in Brieux, Normandy), his maternal ancestors were Scottish-Gaels. He became one of Scotland's greatest kings, as well as one of the most famous warriors of his generation, eventually leading Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence against the Kingdom of England. He claimed the Scottish throne as a great-great-great-great-grandson of David I of Scotland.
His body is buried in Dunfermline Abbey, while his heart is buried in Melrose Abbey. His heart was to be taken on crusade eventually to the Holy Land, but only reached Moorish Granada, where it acted as a talisman for the Scottish contingent at the Battle of Teba.
Return to list of famous Scots and Scottish Americans
Robert Roy MacGregor, (baptized March 7, 1671 – Dec. 28, 1734) usually known simply as Rob Roy or alternately Red MacGregor, was a famous Scottish folk hero and outlaw of the early 18th century, who is sometimes known as the Scottish Robin Hood. Rob Roy is anglicized from the Scottish Gaelic Raibeart Ruadh, or Red Robert. This is because Rob Roy had red hair, though it darkened to auburn in later life.
Rob Roy was born at Glengyle, at the head of Loch Katrine, as proved by an extract from the Register of Baptisms at Buchanan Parish. His father was Donald MacGregor and his mother Margaret Campbell. He later met Mary Helen MacGregor of Comar, who was born at Leny Farm, Strathyre, and they were married in Glenarklet in January 1693; later, they had four sons: James (known as Mor or Tall), Ranald, Coll, and Robert (known as Robin Oig or Young Rob). A cousin, Duncan, was later adopted.
Along with many Highland clans, at the age of 18 Rob Roy, together with his father, joined the Jacobite rising led by Viscount Dundee to support the Stuart King James who had been deposed by William of Orange. Although victorious in initial battles, "Bonnie Dundee" was killed and their fortunes fell. Rob’s father was taken to jail, where he was held on treason charges for two years. Rob’s mother Margaret’s health faltered and then failed during Donald’s time in prison. By the time Donald was finally released, his wife was dead, and his reason for living also gone. The Gregor chief would never return to his former spirit or health.
Rob Roy was badly wounded at the Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719.
Rob Roy became a well-known and respected cattleman — this was a time when taking someone's cattle and selling protection against theft was a commonplace means of earning a living.[1] Rob Roy borrowed a large sum of money to increase his own cattle herd, but due to the deception of his chief herder, who was entrusted with the money to bring the cattle back, Rob Roy lost his money and cattle, and defaulted on his loan. As a result, he was branded an outlaw, and his wife and family were evicted from their house at Inversnaid, which was then burned down. After his principal creditor, James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose seized his lands, Rob Roy warred with the duke until 1722, when Rob Roy was forced to surrender. Later imprisoned, he was finally pardoned in 1727. He died in his house at Inverlochlarig Beg, Balquhidder, on 28 December 1734.
Return to list of famous Scots and Scottish Americans
John Logie Baird (Aug. 13, 1888 – June 14, 1946) was a Scottish engineer and inventor of the world's first working television system. Although Baird's electromechanical system was eventually displaced by purely electronic systems, his early successes demonstrating working television broadcasts and his colour and cinema television work earn him a prominent place in television's invention.
Baird was born in Helensburgh, Argyll, Scotland. He was educated at Larchfield Academy (now part of Lomond School), Helensburgh; the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College (which later became the University of Strathclyde); and the University of Glasgow. His degree course was interrupted by World War I and he never returned to graduate.
Return to list of famous Scots and Scottish Americans
Alexander Graham Bell (March 3, 1847 – Aug. 2, 1922), Alexander Bell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 3, 1847. Throughout his early life, Bell was a British subject. The family home was at 16 S. Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, and it now has a commemorative marker at the doorstep, marking it as Alexander Graham Bell's birthplace. He was an eminent scientist, inventor and innovator who is widely credited with the invention of the telephone.
Return to list of famous Scots and Scottish Americans |
|
