Monthly Archives: January 2014


James Maxton ~ Orator & Politician

James Maxton (1885-1946) nationally loved orator and politician was born in Glasgow Pollockshaws in 1885. he was educated at the University of Glasgow graduating M.A. in 1909. Employed as a teacher from around 1905 and joined the Independent Labour Party in 1904 becoming its chairman in 1926-31 and 1934-9. During […]


Adam Anderson ~ Schoolmaster, Engineer, and Professor of Natural Philosophy

Born 29th June 1780 at Tulliallan Adam Anderson made several contributions to Perth. He was Rector of Perth Academy (from 1809) and was part of the team responsible for the establishment of the Perth Water Works (1830-32); this building now houses the J. D. Fergusson Collection as the Fergusson Gallery. Perth Academywas founded by […]


Patrick Ruthven ~ Soldier

Patrick Ruthven: Ruthven was a mercenary soldier that saw service in Gustavus Adolphus’s Swedish Service as a Captain (1606). He is described in many texts as one of Adolphus’s most capable commanders. He had been born in around 1573, the eldest son of William Ruthven of Ballendean in Perthshire. In 1638, […]


Naomi Mitchison ~ Poet and Writer

Naomi Margaret Haldane Mitchison a highly talented and creative writer of poetry and prose was born in Edinburgh in 1897. Her family had owned land near Gleneagles since the 13th century and Naomi was brought up only a few miles from Auchterarder. Her mother Louisa Kathleen Trotter was a suffragist […]


William Archer ~ Dramatic Critic, Playwright, and Translator of Ibsen

Described as the most advanced prophet of the new theatre of his day, William Archer was born in Perth in 23 September 1856. Archer attended Perth Academy where he was a classmate of the biologist, sociologist, geographer, philanthropist and pioneering town planner, Patrick Geddes, and the medical pioneer,  James Mackenzie. By […]