Some Great Scots
Scots have made their mark across the world in many fields. Here's a brief introduction to some Great Scots past and present.
William Wallace
Immortalised in the film "Braveheart", William Wallace was a 13th century freedom fighter who opposed English rule of Scotland. In 1297, he won the Battle of Stirling Bridge against a much larger English army but, a year later, treachery by Scottish nobles led to his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk. After many years in hiding he was captured by the English and taken to London where, in 1305, he was hung, drawn and quartered. Parts of his body were put on display in different Scottish towns to discourage any further rebellion.
Robert the Bruce
In the aftermath of Wallace's execution, Robert the Bruce was one of two claimants to the Scottish throne. He was excommunicated by the Pope after he stabbed his rival to death in a church in Dumfries after they had met to discuss a treaty. In 1306, Bruce seized the throne but was forced into hiding by King Edward I of England. In 1314, he defeated a vast English army at the Battle of Bannockburn, an event still celebrated by many Scots today. This confirmed Scotland's independence from England, a status that Bruce reinforced with the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320.
Mary, Queen of Scots
One of the great tragic figures of history, Mary became Queen in 1542 at the age of six days. In 1547, she was betrothed to the heir to the French throne and was smuggled to France to avoid the clutches of King Henry VIII of England, who wanted to marry her to his son and heir. By the age of 18 she was a widow in France and returned to Scotland where she found the country in turmoil over the Protestant reformation. Mary's devout Catholicism, her headstrong attitudes and two disastrous marriages brought her into conflict with the Scottish nobles who forced her abdication in 1567. She was imprisoned on an island on Loch Leven, but escaped to raise an army that was defeated at the Battle of Langside in 1568. She then fled to England throwing herself upon the mercy of her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. Elizabeth imprisoned her for 19 years before finally beheading her in 1587 after accusing her of plotting to seize the throne of England.
Rob Roy MacGregor
A famed outlaw and folk hero, Rob Roy was born in 1671 and led a law abiding life until 1712 when his lands were seized and his family evicted from their home. He then turned to cattle rustling, theft and robbery and developed a reputation as a Scottish Robin Hood. His fame spread when the author, Daniel Defoe, published a book about him in 1723. This led to Rob Roy receiving a Royal Pardon and living out his last ten years in peace. His story was also told by Sir Walter Scott in 1818 and, more recently, he was the subject of a Hollywood blockbuster movie starring Liam Neeson, much of which was filmed in the Great Scotland area.
Robert Burns
Scotland's National Bard, Robert Burns lived his short life as a farmer in the 18th century but left behind a vast legacy of songs, poems and writings. He is famed for his humanity, his satirical criticisms of hypocrisy and cruelty and his love of the ladies. His song, "Auld Lang Syne" is now sung across the globe every New Year and his epic poem "Tam o'Shanter" is the centrepiece of annual Burns Night celebrations that are held all over the world every 25 January to celebrate his life and works. His songs are still sung by musicians of all nationalities and he is revered as one of the world's greatest ever writers.
James Watt
A 18th century engineer from Greenock near Glasgow, James Watt invented a powerful new type of steam engine that cooled used steam in a condenser that is separate from the main cylinder. This was a major technological breakthrough that was instrumental in progressing the Industrial Revolution.
Adam Smith
Adam Smith was a 18th century philosopher whose book, "The Wealth of Nations", is regarded as the foundation of modern free trade economics. As such, he is viewed as the father of modern day economic and, consequently, political systems.
David Livingstone
A 19th century missionary and explorer, David Livingstone was the first European to cross the entire width of Southern Africa and the first to see the mighty Victoria Falls. In 1866, he went missing on an expedition to find the source of the River Nile. A New York newspaper mounted a search party to find him led by Henry Morton Stanley. When Stanley found him in 1871 he greeted him with the immortal words, "Doctor Livingstone, I Presume".
Sir Sean Connery
Sir Sean Connery was born in Edinburgh in 1930. After joining the Navy and working in various menial jobs, he came third in the 1950 Mr Universe competition. This led to small acting roles that developed until, in 1962, he achieved world wide fame as the first (and still the best) Secret Agent 007, James Bond. Since then, he has been one of the most successful film actors in the world playing many, varied roles. In 1989 he was voted the "World's Sexiest Man" and is regarded by many as the Greatest Living Scotsman.