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APRIL
Apr 1, 2006 8:59:49 GMT 10
Post by LLady on Apr 1, 2006 8:59:49 GMT 10
April 1
April 1 "Hunt the Gowk" - Scottish equivalent of April Fool's Day (gowk is a cuckoo).
April 1 1295 Robert Bruce, "The Great Competitor" and grandfather of King Robert the Bruce, died.
April 1 1571 Dumbarton Castle, under siege since January 1570, captured by Captain Thomas Crawford scaling the walls.
On this day in 1820, the proclamation which sparked the Radical War was distributed around Glasgow. The uprising was led by weavers and commanded a lot of support throughout the west of Scotland. However, the Radicals had been infiltrated by Government agents and the rising was soon quelled, with the ringleaders executed. The 1 April 1926 saw the birth of Sir William, Mr. Justice MacPherson of Cluny, the noted Scottish jurist. He is the 27th Chief of Clan Macpherson and a respected High Court judge. He achieved national attention as the author of the landmark report on the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry in 1999.
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APRIL
Apr 2, 2006 20:36:45 GMT 10
Post by LLady on Apr 2, 2006 20:36:45 GMT 10
April 2
On 2 April 1593, the College of New Aberdeen was founded. The college was founded by the Earl Marischal of Scotland, George Keith of Inverugie, and became known as Marischal College. The site of the College was formerly occupied by a Franciscan Priory which was disestablished during the Reformation of 1560. Marischal College was the second university in Aberdeen, following the foundation of King's College in 1495 by Bishop William Elphinstone. The two universities were united in 1860 as the University of Aberdeen. Today also saw the birth, in 1688 of John Smibbert, the Scottish-born American painter and architect who was noted for his portraits of American colonials.
Jack Buchanan, the film actor, producer and singer, was born this day in 1890. His films include "Monte Carlo", "The Band Wagon" and "Yes, Mr.Brown"
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APRIL
Apr 3, 2006 19:24:17 GMT 10
Post by LLady on Apr 3, 2006 19:24:17 GMT 10
April 3
April 3 1401 Murder of Duke of Rothesay, heir of Robert III.
On 3 April 1603 King James VI travelled to London to take up the English throne. James moved his court to Whitehall Palace in London, where they settled around the palace in an area which became known as 'Scotland Yard'. On his way to London he knighted 300 people, and in the space of four months in England had knighted more people than Queen Elizabeth had in her entire reign. James returned to Scotland only once, in 1617, and he liked to boast that he now ruled his northern kingdom with a stroke of his pen. On this day in 1926 Andrew Keir, the Scottish film, TV and theatre actor, was born. Keir specialised in playing bluff, sometimes taciturn figures of authority. Keir's films include "Quatermass and the Pit", where he played Professor Quatermass, "The Maggie", "Cleopatra", "Dracula, Prince of Darkness" and "Rob Roy".
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APRIL
Apr 4, 2006 21:41:57 GMT 10
Post by LLady on Apr 4, 2006 21:41:57 GMT 10
April 4
April 4 1373 Parliament held by King Robert II at Scone, resolved that his son, the Earl of Carrick should succeed his father as King (as Robert III although he was baptised John).
April 4 1384 John of Gaunt, son of Edward III attacks Scotland
On April 4, 1406 King Robert III died, he once described himself as "the worst of kings and the most miserable of men." The eldest son of King Robert II and grand-son of Robert the Bruce, he was crippled following a riding accident in 1388. Robert succeeded his father to the throne in 1390, but was not really suited to being monarch, with his ambitious brother, the Duke of Albany, in reality running the kingdom. Robert's eldest son, the Duke of Rothesay, was imprisoned at Falkland by Albany, where he starved to death. Robert sent his younger son, who would become King James I, to safety in France, but the news that James had been captured by the English killed Robert. Robert is buried in Paisley Abbey where, in the 19th century, Queen Victoria paid for the construction of a memorial to him. Today in 1617 John Napier, the mathematician, died. Napier was educated at St Andrews University, entering in 1563 at the tender age of 13, although the likelihood is that he completed a degree somewhere in Europe, probably at the University of Paris. Napier was a fervent Protestant in a time of religious trouble, and he considered his most important work a religious tract entitled "The Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St. John", which he wrote in 1593. Napier regarded mathematics only as a hobby to be fitted in between his theological works. He is best known today for his invention of logarithms, but he also made further advences in the field of mathematics, including the introduction of decimal notation for fractions. On 4th April 1661 Alexander Leslie, the Earl of Leven, died. Leslie commanded the Scottish forces which fought against Charles I in the English Civil War. The King surrendered to Leslie at Newark in May 1646, but when Cromwell executed Charles he changed sides to support the new king, Charles II. Leslie later defended Scotland against the invasion of Oliver Cromwell.
April 4 1689 Scottish Parliament declared that James VII had forfeited the Scottish throne.
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APRIL
Apr 6, 2006 6:19:28 GMT 10
Post by LLady on Apr 6, 2006 6:19:28 GMT 10
April 5
April 5 1603 King James VI leaves Edinburgh to travel to London.
On 5th April 1820 government forces defeated Radical weavers at the Battle of Bonnymuir. The Radicals had marched from Glasgow and were heading towards the Carron Iron Works in Falkirk. However, their ranks had been infiltrated by government agents and they were in fact being guided to an ambush outside the village of Bonnybridge. During the battle a Lieutenant of the 10th Hussars received a wound to the hand and a sergeant was severely wounded, four Radicals were wounded and a haul of five muskets, two pistols, eighteen pikes and about 100 rounds of ball cartridges were taken. Hardie and Baird, the leaders of the Radicals were hanged at Stirling, with Hardie declaring ‘I die a martyr to the cause of truth and liberty'.
April 5 1830 Birth at Lesmahagow of composer Alexander Muir, creator of "Maple Leaf Forever".
April 5 1902 Disaster at English/Scottish football match at Ibrox Stadium when part of the flooring collapsed, killing 20, injuring 200.
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APRIL
Apr 6, 2006 21:43:17 GMT 10
Post by LLady on Apr 6, 2006 21:43:17 GMT 10
April 6 On this day in 1320, the Declaration of Arbroath was drawn up by the monks of Arbroath Abbey. The declaration was a letter, in Latin, from the Scottish nobles to Pope John XXII, affirming their determination to maintain Scotland's independence. The document is also seen as the first example of a contractual monarchy, with the nobility asserting the right to dethrone King Robert I should he submit to England. The Declaration of Arbroath is widely regarded as being the inspiration behind the American Declaration of Independence in 1776. On 6 April 1773 James Mill, the Scottish philosopher and historian was born. Mill was the chief associate of Jeremy Bentham, the founder of Utilitarianism, a school of radical philosophy. He was also author of 'Elements of Political Economy', thought to be the first English book on economics and father of the philosopher, John Stuart Mill. April 6 1944 "Pay As You Earn" Income Tax introduced for the first time. April 6 1998 Celebration of Tartan Day approved by the US Senate, in recognition of the monumental achievements and invaluable contributions made by Scottish Americans.
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APRIL
Apr 8, 2006 3:10:46 GMT 10
Post by LLady on Apr 8, 2006 3:10:46 GMT 10
April 7
On 7 April 1934, the Scottish National Party was founded. The SNP was created out of the merger of a number of parties; the 'National Party of Scotland', formed in 1928 from an amalgamation of a number of small parties following the rejection of a Home Rule bill, and the 'Scottish Party', a breakaway section of the Cathcart Conservative Association. The party enjoyed its first success in 1945, when Robert MacIntyre was elected to represent Motherwell. On this day in 1968, Jim Clark, the Scottish Formula One motor racing driver was killed while racing at the Hockenhaeim circuit, West Germany. Although born in Fife, Clark is most commonly associated with the Borders, where he grew up. Clark won 25 of his 72 Grand Prix, and would undoubtedly have won more had he driven more reliable cars.
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APRIL
Apr 8, 2006 3:13:08 GMT 10
Post by LLady on Apr 8, 2006 3:13:08 GMT 10
April 8
On 8 April 1783 John Loudon, the Scottish architect, landscape gardener and journalist was born. Loudon had a profound influence on the aspiring middle classes through his books on architecture and gardening. Co-author with his wife, Jane Webb, of 'The Suburban Gardener and Villa Companion', and author of 'An Encylopaedia of Gardening', 'British Trees and Shrubs', 'Encyclopaedia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture', he also founded 'Gardener's Magazine'. His designs can be seen at Scone Palace and Castle Kennedy, near Stranraer. On this day in 1820 Radical prisoners were taken from Paisley to Greenock jail under escort. The citizens of Greenock fought their escort, the Port Glasgow Militia, until they reached the jail. Still coming under attack, the Militia opened fire on the stone-throwing crowd. Eight were killed, including an eight year old boy, and ten wounded, before the militia retreated from Greenock. In the evening, the angry Greenockians stormed the jail and freed the prisoners.
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APRIL
Apr 8, 2006 3:18:21 GMT 10
Post by LLady on Apr 8, 2006 3:18:21 GMT 10
April 9
April 9 1139 Second Treaty of Durham in which David I is recognised as King of an independent Scotland by King Stephen of England.
On 9th April 1747 Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, the leading Scottish Jacobite rebel was beheaded on Tower Green, London. Lovat has the unwanted notoriety of being the last man to be publicly beheaded in Britain. On 9th April 1817, Alexander 'Greek' Thomson was born in Balfron, Stirlingshire. Thomson was the seventeenth child of over twenty offspring. His style of using classical architectural features led to his nickname of 'Greek', but he used many other styles in his architecture, including Indian and Egyptian influences. Some of his most well known works include, the Caledonia Rd Church, Holmwood House and the United Presbyterian Church in St Vincent St.
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APRIL
Apr 8, 2006 3:23:02 GMT 10
Post by LLady on Apr 8, 2006 3:23:02 GMT 10
April 10
On this day in 1512, King James V was born at Linlithgow Palace. He was the only surviving son of James IV and Margaret Tudor and inherited the throne at the age of 18 months. Between 1526 and 1528, he was held prisoner by his step-father, Archibald Douglas. Once he escaped James set about asserting control of the country, and was unswerving in his hatred of the Red Douglas clan and their English allies. His second marriage was to the French Mary of Guise, who was to bear him a daughter, the future Mary, Queen of Scots. However, James cannot have been too confident in his heir as he uttered the famous quote, 'It cam wi' a lass and it will gang wi' a lass', at her birth, believing that a female heir spelled the end of the Stuart dynasty.
On 10th April 1840, Alexander Nasmyth, the Scottish painter, died. Nasmyth, born in Edinburgh, was noted for his portraits and landscapes. He studied under Allan Ramsay the younger, and spent many years painting in Italy. Although he is most well known today for his most famous work, the portrait of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, his real passion lay in landscape painting. Poignantly, his last painting, completed only weeks before his death, was entitled 'Going Home' and featured an old labourer winding his way home at the end of the day.
April 10 1988 Sandy Lyle becomes the first Scottish (and British) golfer to win the US Masters tournament.
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APRIL
Apr 11, 2006 4:06:18 GMT 10
Post by LLady on Apr 11, 2006 4:06:18 GMT 10
April 11
April 11 1700 Scottish settlement in Darien, Panama, abandoned.
On 11 April 1839 John Galt, the Scottish novelist, died. Much of Galt's work revolves around the North Ayrshire and Inverclyde areas of Scotland where he was born and lived, although some of his later works include novels set in Canada and the United States, among the first novels to be located there, and a pair of ironic political novels, entitled 'The Member' and 'The Radical'. Apart from his work as a novelist, Galt was also a friend of Lord Byron and wrote the first biography of the tragic poet.
April 11 1882 Battle of the Braes in which crofters in Skye fought 50 policemen during a dispute over land rights
On this day in 1999 Scotland won the final Five Nations Championship. Scotland became champions by default when Wales beat England 32-31 at Wembley. If England had won the last game of the championship they would have been the champions. Both teams had won the same number of games, but Scotland won the title on points scored. The last time they won the championship was in 1990. The following season, Five nations became Six when Italy joined the competition.
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APRIL
Apr 12, 2006 6:19:08 GMT 10
Post by LLady on Apr 12, 2006 6:19:08 GMT 10
April 12
April 12 1606 Union flag adopted as the flag of England, Wales and Scotland
April 12 1913 Flyweight boxing champion Benny Lynch born.
April 12 1928 Madeleine Smith, found "not proven" for murder in 1857, died peacefully in New York.
On this day in 1945 the SNP won their first electoral victory. Dr Robert D. MacIntyre won the Motherwell and Wishaw by-election in a straight fight with Labour by a majority of 617 votes. MacIntyre lost the seat at the general election, but carried on contesting elections throughout central Scotland, and later became Provost of Stirling. George Robertson, the Scottish Labour politician, was born on this day in 1946. After serving as MP for the Hamilton South constituency, he became Secretary of State for Defence between 1997-99. After the end of this tenure he rose to become Secretary-General of NATO, also receiving a life-peerage in 1999, becoming Lord Robertson of Port Ellen.
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