ANDREW CARNEGIE (1835-1919) From Rags to Riches
At aged 12, Andrew Carnegie with his family emigrated from Dunfermline to near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The family were in poor financial circumstances, and had to borrow the cost of the fare. By aged 35, Carnegie was a millionaire, and by 65 he was the richest man in the world.
He then proceeded to give it all away to good causes, claiming that “a man who dies rich dies disgraced.” The extent of his philanthropy was huge. 350 million dollars was given to a wide range of causes. This talk will explain how Carnegie went from Rags to Riches
HENRY BELL (1767-1830) Steamship Pioneer
He was the owner of ‘The Comet,’ which sailed in 1812 from Glasgow to Greenock, and introduced the first commercial paddle steamer service in Europe. From then, paddle steamers rapidly expanded in Scotland and eventually overseas. Yet, his idea of putting an engine on a boat was derided by many, including the famous James Watt.
Bell’s paddle steamer story is one of personal disappointment, as richer rivals with faster boats proved too powerful. Yet he has to take much of the blame. His financial affairs were messy, including not paying bills, and too often he was economical with the truth. Unfortunately, he has never received the credit due to such an important shipping pioneer.
DAVID LIVINGSTONE (1813-1873) The True Story
African missionary and explorer Livingstone has oft been hailed as a true Scottish hero, which resulted in him being buried in the great splendour of Westminster Cathedral in 1874. However, more recent research has questioned some of his apparent success, indicated by failings in leadership skills, in his missionary work and particularly his neglect and poor treatment of his wife and children.
However, there is no denying his important achievements.
SIR HARRY LAUDER (1870-1950) Scotland’s First International Superstar
Today many will scoff at the couthie Scottish music produced by this entertainer, who sang about wholesome laddies and lassies, and falling in love. Yet, Lauder was an astute businessman, who at his peak in the 1920s was the world’s highest paid entertainer. His success was worldwide, touring America 22 times, as well as performing in many other countries from Australia to South Africa. He performed for royalty, played golf with American presidents and was friendly with Hollywood celebrities. Not bad for a laddie from Portobello from a poor family!
The talk will include some recordings of Harry Lauder’s songs.
BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE (1720-1788) Saint or Sinner?
A heavily romanticised figure who often graced the lid of shortbread boxes. Jacobite songs are still sung today by choirs in praise of him, such as ‘Charlie Is my Darling’ ‘The Skye Boat Song’ and ‘Will ye no come back again.’
Yet, for most Scots his story ends when he escaped back to France after the massacre at Culloden field on April 1746, aged only 26. But he lived for another 41 years, still plotting to return to Scotland and seize the British throne. These years saw a steady decline into ill-health and alcoholism. His relationship with ardent Scottish admirer Clementina Walkinshaw ended disastrously, with her and their daughter fleeing to a convent to escape his physical abuse. A marriage to a distant cousin thirty-two years younger also ended in physical abuse.
This talk with cover his brief time in Scotland and end with his death in Rome aged 67. It will include recordings of some Jacobite songs.
LADY NAIRNE aka Carolina Oliphant (1766-1845) Scotland’s Secret Songstress
Lady Nairne wrote nearly one hundred songs during her life. Many of these were, and still are today, mistakenly assumed to be the work of Robert Burns. This is because she insisted that her identity as the songwriter remain anonymous. It was only after her death that her identity was revealed. Because of her insistence on anonymity, she has never received the credit that she is due.
You will probably recognise some of her songs which are still sung today, usually by choirs. She and her family were great Jacobite supporters, which is also reflected in her songs.
Examples of her songs are
The Rowan Tree
Charlie is my darling
Will ye no come back again
Caller Herring
The Laird O’ Cockpen
Wi’ a hundred pipers
The Auld House
This talk will include recordings of some of Lady Nairne’s songs.
ELIZABETH CRICHTON (1779-1862) A Woman with a Dream
Elizabeth Crichton founded an advanced mental asylum in Dumfries in 1839. At that time asylums were dreadful places, where very little treatment was given, and conditions were often appalling. The Dumfries Asylum was very different, with its base in a country estate which valued fresh air, outdoor pursuits and an emphasis on art and music as therapy. It was recognised as probably the most advanced in Europe for its humane treatment. It claimed a high level of successful discharges back into the community. Mrs Crichton employed Doctor Browne as Superintendent, a man known to be very enlightened in his approach to mental health treatment.
DOROTHÉE PULLINGER (1894-1986) Designer of the First Car for Women
Dorothée dreamed of becoming an automobile engineer. In 1914, she applied to join the Institution of Automobile Engineers, but was told “the word person means a man”. This did not deter her. In 1921, however, she was allowed membership
At aged 22, she became Lady Superintendent of Vickers Munitions factory in Barrow-in-Furnace, in charge of 7000 women during World War 1. For this she was later awarded the MBE.
In 1920, aided by her father, she designed the ‘Galloway’ car in Kirkcudbright, built by women, for women. This car had distinctive features to suit women, a light car to drive, a smaller steering wheel, a raised driver’s seat, central gearstick and handbrake, and an inside mirror.
Driven out of the automobile industry by rampant sexism, she turned to owning a chain of laundrettes, saying “No man can say that washing is taking away work from men!”
She was inducted into the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame in 2012.