Famous people from Ayrshire! Part one
Robert Bruce I, the Bruce, King of Scotland Robert was born in Turnberry Castle, Girvan in 1274. He died at Cardross Castle Dunbartonshire, the cause was thought to be leprosy but this has recently been disproven. His mother, Margaret Carrick, died on the 27th of October 1292. Robert was born on the 11th of July in 1274. He was distantly related to the Scottish royal family through his father. He was born in Ayrshire, and could speak Gaelic, Scottish and Anglo-Norman. Robert supported William Wallace, and after Wallace’s death, he became Guardian of Scotland. He was determined to win Scotland’s independence from the English. Robert the Bruce died in 1329 and was buried in Dunfermline Abbey. He had requested that his heart should be taken to the Holy Land. It was literally carried into battle, but only got as far as Spain before being returned to Scotland and buried in Melrose Abbey, hence the name Braveheart which should be attributed to Robert the Bruce and not to William Wallace.
Taken from 'King Street To King's Road'
Famous people from Ayrshire, Part two. An impressive line up!
John McAdam was born in Ayr on 21st September 1756. In 1770 he went to New York. He returned to Scotland as a rich man and noticed that the local roads were in poor condition. Using his own money, he carried out a series of experiments in road design. The resulting’ Macadamization’ of roads greatly improved travel and communication. The process was adopted in America and other countries around the world.
Sir Alexander Fleming, bacteriologist and Nobel Prize winner, is best known for his discovery of penicillin, he was born in Lochfield near Darvel on the 6th of August 1881. He attended Louden Moor School, Darvel School, and Kilmarnock Academy
John Boyd Dunlop, a veterinary surgeon who invented the pneumatic tyre was born on a farm in Dreghorn on 5th February 1840.Dunlop was unaware that Robert Thomson had already patented a design for a pneumatic tyre in 1846. Dunlop initially marketed his design for bicycles but was soon making tyres for the new motor cars that were becoming popular.
Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales, was born on 23 July 1773 at Brisbane House, near Largs, his family could boast ancient Scottish lineage . A new convict settlement, was named in his honour and is now among the largest cities in Australia.
William Murdoch, the engineer who invented gas lighting and the oscillating cylinder steam engine was born in Lugar, near Cumnock on the 21 August 1754. During the 1790s, Murdoch turned his attention to the production of gas from coal. He initially produced just enough gas to light a single room at his house
Andrew Fisher Was Prime Minister of Australia from 1908 to 1909, 1910 to 1913 and 1914 to 1915. He was born in Crosshouse on the 22nd August 1862, where he became a miner and joined the local trade union. His Involvement in strikes to improve conditions and wages lost him his job, and he emigrated to Australia in 1885. He was Australian high commissioner in London from 1916 to 1921.
And last but not least, Robert Burns. More to follow...
JHW 2019.
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