This Day in Scottish History

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we step back to January 3, 1818, to recount a dramatic event in the Highlands of Scotland: the destruction of the Torgoyle Bridge in Glenmoriston by an extraordinary flood. Nestled in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, Glenmoriston lies just west of Loch Ness, a land steeped in myth and history. In the early 19t...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History . I’m your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we reflect on one of the most somber chapters in Scotland’s sporting past. On January 2, 1971, tragedy struck at Ibrox Park, the home of Rangers Football Club in Glasgow, when a crushing disaster claimed the lives of 66 fans and injured more than 200 others. This heartbreaking event left a profound mark not only...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we journey back to a pivotal moment in Scottish legal and social history. On this day, January 1, 1940, the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1939 came into force, forever altering the romantic yet contentious tradition of "anvil marriages" at Gretna Green. To understand the significance of this day, we must first explore t...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History . I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we dive into one of the more peculiar and controversial episodes in modern Scottish history. On December 31, 1974, the world witnessed a highly unusual event when Idi Amin, the infamous President of Uganda, issued a public proclamation in support of Scottish independence. Yes, you heard that correctly. On the fin...

Welcome back to "This Day in Scottish History." I’m your host, Colin MacDonald, and today, we journey back to December 30, 1899—a pivotal day in Scottish industrial history. On this day, the Albion Motor Car Company Ltd, a pioneering force in the automotive industry, was officially founded in Glasgow. The story of Albion Motors begins at the cusp of the 20th century, an era bursting with innovatio...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I’m your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we remember a heartbreaking moment in Scottish football that shook the nation. On this day, December 29, 2007, Motherwell footballer Phil O’Donnell tragically passed away after suffering a heart attack during a Scottish Premier League match against Dundee United. Phil O’Donnell, affectionately known as “Uncle Phil...

Welcome back to "This Day in Scottish History." I'm your host, Colin MacDonald, and today, we turn our attention to one of Scotland’s most enduring and enigmatic figures. On this day, December 28, 1734, Rob Roy MacGregor, the infamous outlaw, cattleman, and folk hero, passed away at his home in Balquhidder Glen. His life, steeped in myth and adventure, has come to symbolize resilience, defiance, a...

Welcome back to "This Day in Scottish History." I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we delve into a tale of betrayal, double lives, and the thin veneer of respectability. On August 27, 1788, the trial began in Edinburgh of Deacon William Brodie, a man whose life story has enthralled generations. By day, he was a trusted tradesman and pillar of society. By night, he was the cunning leader of a g...

Welcome back to "This Day in Scottish History." I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we turn our attention to a remarkable and tumultuous event in Scotland's meteorological history: the Great Boxing Day Storm of 1998. On this day, December 26, 1998, one of the most severe storms in living memory wreaked havoc across southern Scotland, leaving destruction and chaos in its wake. Meteorologists had...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History . I’m your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, as we celebrate Christmas, we delve into a daring act of defiance that unfolded on December 25, 1950. On this day, a group of Scottish nationalists stole the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey in London. This audacious act reignited debates about Scotland's history, identity, and its relationship with Englan...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History . I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we delve into one of the most intriguing mysteries in Scottish aviation history. On December 24, 1975, Peter Gibbs, a former Royal Air Force pilot and accomplished musician, disappeared after taking off from Glenforsa Airfield on the Isle of Mull. His story has become known as The Great Mull Air Mystery . Peter G...

Welcome back to "This Day in Scottish History." I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we travel back to a pivotal and tragic day in Scotland’s medical and social history—December 23, 1831, when the second cholera pandemic reached Scotland. This devastating disease would go on to claim thousands of lives and leave an indelible mark on public health. The second cholera pandemic, which raged from 18...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we’re turning back the clock to December 22, 1797, to mark the remarkable return of one of Scotland’s most famous explorers, Mungo Park. On this day, Park reappeared in Scotland, having survived an incredible journey through the unexplored interiors of West Africa—long after he had been presumed dead. Mungo Park w...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we turn our attention to a moment of profound tragedy that forever changed the lives of many and brought the quiet town of Lockerbie into the global spotlight. On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, claiming the lives of 243 passengers, 16 crew member...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History! I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we turn our attention to a trailblazing moment in the history of law and gender equality. On December 20, 1948, Margaret Kidd, a distinguished Scottish advocate, achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first woman to be appointed as King’s Counsel—commonly referred to as KC—in Britain. This monumental...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History ! I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we’re stepping back to December 19, 1910, a day that marked a significant milestone in Scottish cultural history—the grand opening of the Alhambra Theatre in Glasgow. Known as the "House of Varieties," this magnificent venue became one of Scotland's most beloved theaters, shaping the city’s entertainment landscap...

Welcome back to “This Day in Scottish History.” I’m your host, Colin MacDonald, and today we revisit a tragic event that shook the island communities of Scotland. On December 18th, 1863 , a devastating storm, later remembered as “The Day of the Great Drowning,” claimed the lives of 31 men —the entire crews of five fishing boats from Ness , a community on the northern tip of the Isle of Lewis. The...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we dive into the icy waters of Orkney, where an extraordinary archaeological discovery was announced on December 17, 2009. On this day, researchers revealed the existence of man-made structures on the seabed off the tiny island of Damsay, shedding light on Scotland's ancient maritime history. Damsay is a small, un...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I’m your host, Colin MacDonald, and today we’re taking a look at the foundation of one of Scotland’s most important financial institutions. On this day, December 16, 1844, the Edinburgh Stock Exchange was officially established. It marked a key moment in Scotland’s economic history, tying Edinburgh even closer to the heart of international trade and fi...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we explore one of the most haunting maritime mysteries in Scotland’s history—a tale that still sends shivers down the spines of those who hear it. On December 15, 1900, the three keepers of the Flannan Isles Lighthouse disappeared without a trace. The Flannan Isles, also known as the Seven Hunters, are a remote cl...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I’m your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we’re stepping back to December 14, 1896, a day that marked a significant milestone in Scottish engineering and urban transport. On this day, the Glasgow Subway, the third oldest metro system in the world, officially began operations. Known today as the "Clockwork Orange," the Glasgow Subway has been a vital part...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History . I’m your host, Colin MacDonald, and today, December 13, we set sail on the remarkable story of Alexander Selkirk, the Scottish sailor whose extraordinary life inspired one of literature’s most enduring characters, Robinson Crusoe. On this day in 1721, Selkirk died off the coast of West Africa, concluding a life marked by adventure, survival, and a leg...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we turn back the clock to December 12, 1872, to a moment that forever shaped Scottish football. On this day, the Third Lanark Athletic Club, affectionately known as "Thirds" or "Third Lanark," was established as the football team of the Third Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers. The formation of Third Lanark A.C. was a p...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History. I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we delve into a pivotal moment in Scotland’s journey toward political reform. On December 11, 1792, the first National Convention of the Scottish Friends of the People convened in Edinburgh. This was a radical gathering, fueled by the Enlightenment ideals of liberty and equality, with the goal of demanding parliam...

Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History . I'm your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we journey back to December 10, 1768, a day that marked a turning point in the history of knowledge and publishing. On this day, the first volumes of the Encyclopædia Britannica were published in Edinburgh, beginning one of the most ambitious literary projects of the Enlightenment. The 18th century was a time of...