October

Events in Scottish History

1st October 1788: Deacon William Brodie, respectable citizen by day, by criminal at night executed at the Tolbooth in Edinburgh.

2nd 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

2nd October 1854: Sir Patrick Geddes, “Father of Town Planning” born in Ballater.

3rd October 1357: The Treaty of Berwick released David II from English captivity. The Scots paid 100,000 merks for the release of their King.

3rd 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

3rd October 1721: The Rev. John Skinner, author of “Tullochgorum”, described by Robert Burns as “the best Scotch song ever Scotland saw”, born.

4th October 1821: John Rennie, engineer and builder of bridges, roads and canals, including the Crinan Canal, died.

4th October 1883: The Boys’ Brigade was founded by William A, Smith in the North Woodside Mission Hall Glasgow.

5th October 1992: Jock Stein, manager of Celtic and latterly the Scotland Team, born in Burnbank, Lanarkshire.

6th October 1811: Ebenezeer Henderson formed the first Congregational Church in Sweden.

7th October 1796: Thomas Reid, philosopher, lecturer on mathematics and physics as well as logic and ethics, died.

8th October 1774: Henry Duncan, minister, geologist and founder of the first savings bank born in Ruthwell, Dumfrieshire.

9th October 1995: Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Conservative Politician, and British Prime Minister in 1963, died.

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.

16th 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.

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..

19th October 1914: 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.

20th October 1713: Archibald Pitcairn, physician, died in Edinburgh. He was buried at Greyfriars.

21st 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.

22nd October 1775: Dr Alexander Murray, distinguished orientalist, born Dunkitterick, Kirkcudbright.

23rd 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.

23rd October 1612: Annexation of the lands of Orkney to the Crown.

Reference
Records of the Parliaments of Scotland

The Annexation of the earldom of Orkney and lordship of Shetland to the Crown, 20th February 1472

24th 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.

25th 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.

25th October 1765: The Coronation of George III.

25th October 1854: The 93rd Sutherland Highlanders fought in what became known as the “Thin Red Line” at the Battle of Balaclava.

26th 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).

26th 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?”.

26th October 1911: Sorley MacLean, poet, born on the Island of Raasay. He died on the 24th November 1996.

27th October 1854: William Alexander Smith, founder of The Boys’ Brigade, born in Thurso.

27th October 1911: Dr Andrew Combe, physiologist, born in Edinburgh..

28th 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.

28th October 1644: The Battle of Fyvie, Aberdeenshire. The Marquis of Montrose resists the Marquis of Argyle. Historic Scotland

28th October 1794: Robert Liston, surgeon, born in Ecclesmachan, Linlithgow.

29th October 1650: David Calderwood, Scottish Historian, born 1575, died at Jedburgh..

30th October 1756: James Perry, editor of the “Morning Chronicle”, born Aberdeenshire.

30th October 1842: Allan Cunningham, Scottish Poet, died.

31st October 1860: Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, died. A naval hero, he was buried in Westminster Abbey.

31st 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.