1810 - 1823

1810
Birth of Hugh Allan, to who is owed much of Canada's commercial success in the 19th century. Allan will build shipping lines and railways, develop seaports and bring many Scots immigrants to Canada.

1811
Charles Bell publishes "Anatomy of the Brain" to announce his discovery of the distinct functions of sensory and motor nerves.

1812
Scottish architect Mangin designs New York's City Hall at Broadway and Park Row.

Henry Bell's "Comet" uses steam power on an experimental run on the River Clyde, becoming Europe's first successful commercial steamship.

1813
Birth of William Edmondstoune, whose "Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers", and "Ballads of Scotland" will do much to keep alive the romantic picture of the heroic, defeated Jacobites as well as the poetical and musical traditions of the Highlands.

1814
Birth of John Henry Anderson, who will become an early pioneer in the effective use of advertising.

The Duke of Sutherland begins his program of enclosing land for sheep and cattle that will evict Highlanders.

1815
Birth of Alexander Bain, who will pioneer studies of the brain, especially the need for a rigorous, scientific approach.

North Loch, separating the Old and New towns of Edinburgh, is finally drained after it has become an open sewer.

Admiral Keith, who has helped drive Napoleon's forces from Egypt and who has added many important ports and territories to the Empire, supervises the removal of the French emperor to St. Helena.

John Loudon McAdam puts into practice his theories concerning the proper construction and maintenance of highways, thus making possible vastly improved travel and communication throughout Britain (and in the United States and other countries where his ideas will be quickly adopted).

1817
"The Edinburgh Monthly Magazine" becomes the first periodical to introduce stories and poems as well as serialized novels (it will later become "Blackwood's Magazine"). The Scotsman begins publication as a weekly Edinburgh paper (it will become a daily in 1855).

Walter Scott completes "Rob Roy", romanticizing the Scottish outlaw.

1818
Andrew Duncan, the Elder, founds the Royal Public Dispensary in Edinburgh. As President of the Edinburgh College of Physicians, he will do much to enhance his city's reputation as one of the world's leading medical centers in the early part of the century.

Explorer John Ross, in his search for a Northwest Passage, discovers the Ice Shelf that is to be named after him.

George Ramsay, 9th earl of Dalhousie establishes Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia.

1821
William and Robert Chambers in Edinburgh begin publishing their dictionaries, encyclopedias, journals and histories that will have enormous influence on subsequent publishing.

James Douglas, "the father of British Columbia," begins his career with the Hudson Bay Company, that will eventually lead to the creation of British Columbia.

McGill University, Ontario is chartered as a result of a bequest from James McGill.

James Sanderson and E. Riley adopt lines from Walter Scott's "Lady of the Lake" to complete their composition "Hail to the Chief."

1822
George IV, dressed in what may have been a Royal Stuart tartan, makes a state visit to Scotland, the first by a reigning monarch in 172 years. The ceremonies are presided over by Sir Walter Scott.

1823
David Douglas begins his explorations in the Oregon Territory that will lead to the discovery of many new plant and animal species. The Douglas Fir will be named after him.

Charles Macintosh invents a method for making waterproof garments, thus giving birth to the "macintosh."