John Proudfoot Stratton surgeon and government official, was born at Caputh by Dunkeld in 1830. He began an apprenticeship with a Dr Ingham of North Shields in 1840 and by 1855 had attained the degrees of BM and MD from the University of Aberdeen. As a medical student, Stratton was exceptional […]
Thomas Smeaton (1536-1583) theologian born at Gask. Educated firstly in Perth and then at St Salvator’s College (St Andrews) where he stayed as a regent until ousted during the Reformation. With several other members of St Andrews, Smeaton travelled to Paris where he worked at the university. In Paris, Smeaton […]
George Seton (1822-1908) was born in Perth to George Seton of the East India Company. Educated at Edinburgh University and Exeter College, Oxford. Seton joined the bar in 1846 though never practised. By 1854, Seton was secretary to the Registrar-General for Scotland (Edinburgh). He added the post of Superintendent of the […]
William Ritchie (c.1790-1837), scientist and mathematician, born at Monzie, educated at Perth Academy and then Edinburgh University (graduated 1811). Ritchie became assistant master at Perth Academy in 1816 and two years later published System of Arithmetic. By 1820, Ritchie was Rector of Tain Royal Academy. In this post, he had time to […]
Alexander Balmain Bruce (1831-1899) Minister and Theologian was born at West Lodge, Dupplin and initially educated at the parish school in Auchterarder before attending Edinburgh University (1845). This was just after the Disruption of 1843 and whether as a result of this or some other factor, Bruce’s study of theology resulted […]
“Martyr, born at Perth; died about 1201. Practically all that is known of this martyr comes from the “Nova legenda Anglie”, and that is little. In youth he had been somewhat wild, but on reaching manhood he devoted himself wholly to the service of God. A baker by trade, he […]
John MacDiarmid: John MacDiarmid (1779-1808) was born the son of the minister of Weem at Perthshire. A writer amongst which his body of work is found: An Inquiry into the System of Military Defence of Great Britain (1803) Inquiry into the Nature of Civil and Military Subordination (1804) Lives of British […]
David Mallet (Malloch): Born near Crieff around 1705, David Mallet, a farmer’s son rose from being janitor of Edinburgh High School to an acclaimed poet and songwriter; though a less than successful playwright. He attended St. Andrews University whence he became a tutor (1720) and gained employment as such to the […]
David Octavius Hill: This painter and pioneering portrait photography was born in Perth in 1802, the son of a local bookseller. Educated at Perth Academy he studied subsequently at the Edinburgh School of Design. He became interested in railways as a young man and produced a set of engravings of the Garnkirk […]
Hugh Haliburton (the Pseudonym of the minor poet James Logie Robertson): Born in Milnathort by Kinross in 1846 and educated at Orwell ParishSchool. Hugh Haliburton began as a student-teacher at Haddington before studying at Edinburgh University and teaching at Heriot’s Hospital. He became the first English master at Edinburgh Ladies’ College […]