Events this Week in Scottish History
10th October 1802: Hugh Miller, geologist, born in Cromarty.
11th 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.”
12th 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”.
12th 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.
13th 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.
14th October 1633: James VII and II born at St James’ Palace, London.
14th October 1821: Eyemouth Fishing Disaster: a storm killed 129 of the East Berwickshire town’s fishermen.
14th 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.
15th October 1686: Allan Ramsay born in the village of Leadhills, Lanarkshire. He was the father of portrait painter, Allan Ramsay.
17th 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.
17th October 1821: Alexander Gardner, renowned photographer of the American Civil War, born in Paisley.
17th October 1921: George Mackay Brown, Orkney poet, author and dramatist born. He died on 13th April 1996..
18th October 1541: Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII of England and wife of James IV, died..
