Events in Scottish History
October
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	1		October		1788		Deacon William Brodie, respectable citizen by day, by criminal at night executed at the Tolbooth in Edinburgh.
	2		October		1263		The Battle of Largs.  Haakon the Old of Norway is defeated by the Scots and the Kingdom of Norway loses its territory in Argyll and the Western Isles. It is also the source of one of the versions of the origin of the Thistle as emblem of Scotland. (The most likely being the Viking raid at Luncarty on the Tay). Largs Viking Festival
	2		October		1854		Sir Patrick Geddes, "Father of Town Planning" born in Ballater.
	3		October		1357		The Treaty of Berwick released David II from English captivity.  The Scots paid 100,000 merks for the release of their King.
	3		October		1594		The Battle of Glenlivet.  A force of 2,000 with cavalry and artillery led by the Catholic Earls of Errol and Huntly rout 10,000 Highland infantry under the Duke of Argyll. Bonnie George Campbell FaceBook Video
	3		October		1721		The Rev. John Skinner, author  of  "Tullochgorum",  described by Robert Burns  as "the best Scotch song ever Scotland saw", born.
	4		October		1821		John Rennie, engineer and builder of bridges, roads and canals, including the Crinan Canal, died.
	4		October		1883		The Boys' Brigade was founded by William A, Smith in the North Woodside Mission Hall Glasgow.
	5		October		1922		Jock Stein, manager of Celtic and latterly the Scotland Team, born in Burnbank, Lanarkshire.
	6		October		1811		Ebenezeer Henderson formed the first Congregational Church in Sweden.
	7		October		1796		Thomas Reid, philosopher, lecturer on mathematics and physics as well as logic and ethics, died.
	8		October		1774		Henry Duncan, minister, geologist and founder of the first savings bank born in Ruthwell, Dumfrieshire.
	9		October		1995		Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Conservative Politician, and British Prime Minister in 1963, died.
	10		October		1802		Hugh Miller, geologist, born in Cromarty.
	11		October		1297		Andrew Moray and William Wallace write to the merchants of Lübeck and Hamburg, advising that "...that they can now have a safe access with their merchandize to all harbours of the Kingdom of Scotland, because the Kingdom of Scotland has, thanks be to God, by war been recovered from the power of the English."
	12		October		1511		The "GREAT MICHAEL" was launched for the James IV's  Navy. At 1,000 tons she was twice the size of England's "MARY ROSE".
	12		October		1609		A contract was signed by which Lady Mary Erskine, born 1597 would marry William Keith, 5th Earl Marischal and become Countess of Marischal. She died after 1626.
	13		October		1506		James IV ratified the charter of the seal of cause of the Guild of Barber Surgeons of Edinburgh, forerunner of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
	14		October		1633		James VII and II born at St James' Palace, London.
	14		October		1881		Eyemouth Fishing Disaster: a storm killed 129 of the East Berwickshire town's fishermen.
	14		October		1939		German submarine U47 commanded by Gunther Prien sank HMS ROYAL OAK in Scapa Flow, Orkney, with the loss of 833 lives. Shortly before 0100 hrs Prien fired his first salvo, causing minor damage to the bow. 20 minutes later, having reloaded the second salvo hit amidships. The U47 escaped through the narrow channel through which she had entered.
	15		October		1686		Poet Allan Ramsay born in the village of Leadhills, Lanarkshire. He was the father of portrait painter, Allan Ramsay.
	16		October		1430		James II born. His father, James I, was murdered when he was 6. He was crowned at Holyrood in 1437, and killed by an exploding cannon at the siege of Roxburgh Castle in August 1460.
	17		October		1346		The Battle of Neville's Cross.  The English Army of about 700 men at arms, 10,000 archers and other troops had picked the favourable ground and the Scots invaders, between 10 and 15,000 were at a disadvantage from the start.  About 1,000 Scots were killed and many captured, including David II. He wore the Black Cross of Scotland to the Battle and lost it to the English. For the next 200 years the cross was given pride of place in Durham Cathedral's relic collection.
	17		October		1821		Alexander Gardner, renowned photographer of the American Civil War, born in Paisley.
	17		October		1921		George Mackay Brown, Orkney poet, author and dramatist born.  He died on 13th April 1996.
	18		October		1541		Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII of England and wife of James IV, died.
	19		October		1914		The first day of the First Battle of Ypres. The 7th Division (which included 2nd Bn The Scots Guards, 2nd Bn The Gordon Highlanders and 2nd Bn The Royal Scots Fusiliers) fought the advancing German Army to a standstill during the Battle.
	20		October		1713		Archibald Pitcairn, physician, died in Edinburgh. He was buried at Greyfriars.
	21		October		1805		The Battle of Trafalgar. 7% of Nelson's force were Scots.  5 of his 27 captains were Scots, the surgeon who attended his fatal injury was Scots, as was the woman who embalmed his body, and the youngest sailor a 10 year old cabin boy from Leith.  Many of the fleet’s sails were from the jute mills in Dundee, and a number of the fleet’s cannon were from the Carron iron works in Falkirk.
	22		October		1775		Dr Alexander Murray, distinguished orientalist,  born Dunkitterick, Kirkcudbright.
	23		October		1295		The 'Auld Alliance' treaty was signed between John Balliol, King of Scots, and Philippe IV of France. It provided for mutual military help against the English and was renewed by Robert The Bruce in 1326.  It was a military and diplomatic alliance but for most it brought benefits such as pay as mercenaries in France's forces and trade which brought French wine to Scotland.
	23		October		1612		Annexation of the lands of Orkney to the Crown. Reference Records of the Parliaments of Scotland See also The Annexation of the earldom of Orkney and lordship of Shetland to the Crown, 20th February 1472
	24		October		1765		Sir James Mackintosh born at Aldourie, near Inverness. He trained as a doctor and barrister, but also became a journalist, judge, administrator, professor, philosopher and politician.
	25		October		1761		The Coronation of George III.
	25		October		1415		The Battle of Agincourt (Azincourt).  A smaller English Army (about 9,000) lead by Henry V defeated a larger French Army  (about 12,000) including, it is said, some Scots and Bretons, following which the French invoked the "Auld Alliance".  Sir Alexander Buchanan was sent over with a force of 7,000, and six years later the Franco-Scottish Army defeated the English at the Battle of Baugé, where Buchan killed the English King's brother, the Duke of Clarence. The Scots fought with the French against the English to the end of the "Hundred Years War". Shakespeare has Capt Jamy, a Scot, in Henry V's Army. James I was a captive in England at the time and with Henry V at the Siege of Melun, in 1420, when he tried to persuade the Scots to surrender.
	25		October		1854		The 93rd Sutherland Highlanders fought in what became known as the "Thin Red Line" at the Battle of Balaclava.
	26		October		1327		Elizabeth de Burgh, Queen Consort of Robert the Bruce  died at Cullen Castle, Banffshire, and was buried at Dunfermline Abbey. (other sources say 27th October).
	26		October		1845		Carolina Oliphant, Baroness Nairne, died. Writing as Mrs Bogan of Bogan she adapted Scottish airs, many with Jacobite themes, and amongst her most popular are "Charlie is my darling" and "Will ye no come back again?".
	26		October		1911		Sorley MacLean, poet, born on the Island of Raasay.  He died on the 24th November 1996.
	27		October		1797		Dr Andrew Combe, physiologist, born in Edinburgh.
	27		October		1854		William Alexander Smith, founder of The Boys' Brigade, born in Thurso.
	28		October		1562		The Battle of Corrichie, Aberdeenshire. The Earl of Moray defeated the Earl of Huntly for Mary Queen of Scots at Corrichie by the Meikle Tap of the Hill of Fare and went on to sack Huntly Castle.
	28		October		1644		The Battle of Fyvie, Aberdeenshire. The Marquis of Montrose resists the Marquis of Argyle. Historic Scotland
	28		October		1794		Robert Liston, surgeon, born in Ecclesmachan, Linlithgow.
	29		October		1650		David Calderwood, Scottish Historian, born 1575, died at Jedburgh.
	29		October		1740		James Boswell, writer, born in Edinburgh.
	30		October		1756		James Perry, editor of the "Morning Chronicle", born Aberdeenshire.
	30		October		1842		Allan Cunningham, Scottish Poet, died.
	31		October		1860		Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, died.  A naval hero, he was buried in Westminster Abbey.
	31		October		1914		The London Scottish saw its first action "Hallowe'en".  They were the first Territorial Battalion to see action in WWI. They held the Wytschaete-Messines ridge against German regulars for hours sustaining 400 casualties.