Patrick Matthew of Gourdiehill (1790-1874), writer on arboriculture and evolutionary theory, was born into a minor family of Perthshire landowners (Carse of Gowrie). He was educated at Perth Academy before going up to Edinburgh University to study medicine. Unfortunately, after his mother’s death, Patrick Matthew was forced to give up his […]
Agnata Frances (Ramsay) Butler (1867-1931) – classical scholar. Born in London, Agnata Ramsay was brought up in Perthshire. Her family were academics and Agnata followed in their footsteps by going to Girton College, Cambridge to take the tripos in classics. As such she was one of the first women to do […]
John Burns Hynd (1902-1971) was born in Perth and educated at St Ninian’s Episcopal Church and Caledonian Road School. After leaving school, Hynd first worked as a railway clerk (London, Midland and Scottish Railways) in Perth, until 1925. Involvement in the labour movement saw him work firstly for the National Union […]
James Edward Gordon, politician and Protestant religious activist, was born at Abernethy (or possibly Aberdeen) in 1789; his father was a factor employed by the Duke of Gordon. At the age of fifteen, Gordon went into the Royal Navy, was promoted to lieutenant in 1811 and by 1814 was in […]
William Thomson (1746-1817) – writer – was born at Burnside (Forteviot) in 1746 and was educated at the grammar school in Perth before entering St Andrews University to study theology. He later attended Edinburgh University. At university, he gained a post with the Earl of Kinnoull (chancellor of the university) as […]
During the 1830s and 1840s a number of popular radical movements known collectively as Chartism became a revolutionary force in British society. Meetings, demonstrations, petitions and other political actions took place under its name across the British Isles and involved millions of workers and members of the petty-bourgeoisie. The Chartist […]
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 […]