How the Scots Invented the Modern World (69 page)
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Authors: Arthur Herman
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4
Sept refers to a subclan of Highlanders commanded by a minor chieftain. For more about this, see chapter 5.
Sept refers to a subclan of Highlanders commanded by a minor chieftain. For more about this, see chapter 5.
5
In the end, they agreed to split the inheritance between them.
In the end, they agreed to split the inheritance between them.
6
When Scottish judges took their seats on the Court of Session, they were automatically addressed as “my Lord” and allowed to take honorary titles. Hence James Boswell’s father, Alexander, became Lord Auchinleck, James Burnett became Lord Monboddo, and so on. Kames’s title, which he took from his family estate, was in no way a peerage or a claim to nobility: from that point of view, Lord Kames remained a commoner for the rest of his life.
When Scottish judges took their seats on the Court of Session, they were automatically addressed as “my Lord” and allowed to take honorary titles. Hence James Boswell’s father, Alexander, became Lord Auchinleck, James Burnett became Lord Monboddo, and so on. Kames’s title, which he took from his family estate, was in no way a peerage or a claim to nobility: from that point of view, Lord Kames remained a commoner for the rest of his life.
7
The
Essays,
however, did have an enormous impact on Kames’s friend the Aberdeen philosopher Thomas Reid, and served as the foundation for his own philosophy of common sense. For more on Reid, see chapter 9.
The
Essays,
however, did have an enormous impact on Kames’s friend the Aberdeen philosopher Thomas Reid, and served as the foundation for his own philosophy of common sense. For more on Reid, see chapter 9.
8
For details, see chapter 6.
For details, see chapter 6.
9
Mansfield actually happened to be a Scot, although he was educated in the law in England and served on the King’s Bench in London.
Mansfield actually happened to be a Scot, although he was educated in the law in England and served on the King’s Bench in London.
10
See chapter 7.
See chapter 7.
11
Meanwhile, Millan went on to create Britain’s most prestigious publishing house, under the name he used in London: Macmillan and Company.
Meanwhile, Millan went on to create Britain’s most prestigious publishing house, under the name he used in London: Macmillan and Company.
12
Which we can translate as: “Tell me, Jean-Jacques, why do you always act so strangely? You have written an excellent book; so get hold of yourself. Why can’t you live like other people?” In the event, Boswell kept his thoughts to himself.
Which we can translate as: “Tell me, Jean-Jacques, why do you always act so strangely? You have written an excellent book; so get hold of yourself. Why can’t you live like other people?” In the event, Boswell kept his thoughts to himself.
13
MacDonnells were, like their cousins the MacDonalds, an independent branch of the great Clan Donald.
MacDonnells were, like their cousins the MacDonalds, an independent branch of the great Clan Donald.
14
Sometimes mistakenly called a claymore. In fact, the claymore or
claidheamh-mór
(which simply means “big sword”) was the two-handed battle sword popular in the Middle Ages, which the clans had largely abandoned for the lighter but just as deadly broadsword, with its characteristic basket hilt.
Sometimes mistakenly called a claymore. In fact, the claymore or
claidheamh-mór
(which simply means “big sword”) was the two-handed battle sword popular in the Middle Ages, which the clans had largely abandoned for the lighter but just as deadly broadsword, with its characteristic basket hilt.
15
The term comes from the Latin
Jacobus
, or James, as in James the Pretender.
The term comes from the Latin
Jacobus
, or James, as in James the Pretender.
16
Although scholars usually blame this on Pope’s Roman Catholicism.
Although scholars usually blame this on Pope’s Roman Catholicism.
17
One of Campbell’s earliest efforts was the Tobacco Lord mansion Shawfield House, which he built in Glasgow in 1712. It impressed and inspired Lord Burlington, the father of English Palladianism; so one could with justice argue that Shawfield House was actually the first neo-Palladian edifice in Britain.
One of Campbell’s earliest efforts was the Tobacco Lord mansion Shawfield House, which he built in Glasgow in 1712. It impressed and inspired Lord Burlington, the father of English Palladianism; so one could with justice argue that Shawfield House was actually the first neo-Palladian edifice in Britain.
18
It was not very far from what Francis Hutcheson had said on the subject in
An Inquiry
into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue.
In fact, both Adam brothers must have heard a great deal about the late Glasgow professor from their cousin William Robertson, and from other friends who intensely admired Hutcheson.
It was not very far from what Francis Hutcheson had said on the subject in
An Inquiry
into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue.
In fact, both Adam brothers must have heard a great deal about the late Glasgow professor from their cousin William Robertson, and from other friends who intensely admired Hutcheson.
19
The title was a swipe at the Earl of Shaftesbury and his famous essays, which influenced all the leading Moderates, including Hutcheson himself. See chapter 3.
The title was a swipe at the Earl of Shaftesbury and his famous essays, which influenced all the leading Moderates, including Hutcheson himself. See chapter 3.
20
Steuart had been, interestingly enough, Charles Stuart’s private secretary during the Forty-five and had been pardoned afterwards, living quietly in Edinburgh until his death in 1780.
Steuart had been, interestingly enough, Charles Stuart’s private secretary during the Forty-five and had been pardoned afterwards, living quietly in Edinburgh until his death in 1780.
21
For details, see chapter 11.
For details, see chapter 11.
22
In fact, Smith pointed to the Continental Army as his chief example of how a trained citizen army could compete with such professionals as the British redcoats.
In fact, Smith pointed to the Continental Army as his chief example of how a trained citizen army could compete with such professionals as the British redcoats.
23
When Gilbert Tennant died in 1764, Rush wrote a glowing eulogy in his memory—it was his first published work.
When Gilbert Tennant died in 1764, Rush wrote a glowing eulogy in his memory—it was his first published work.
24
Scholar Duncan Bruce insists the number should be twenty-one: he adds Abraham Clark of New Jersey and Lewis Morris of New York to the list originally compiled by genealogist William Scott.
Scholar Duncan Bruce insists the number should be twenty-one: he adds Abraham Clark of New Jersey and Lewis Morris of New York to the list originally compiled by genealogist William Scott.
25
See chapter 8.
See chapter 8.
26
This related him to two earlier interesting figures: Robert Adam and Patrick Henry.
This related him to two earlier interesting figures: Robert Adam and Patrick Henry.
27
The official term is sheriff-depute. It is not as romantic a job as it sounds, more like an assistant district attorney.
The official term is sheriff-depute. It is not as romantic a job as it sounds, more like an assistant district attorney.
28
Charles Darwin sat in on the last of the Munros’ classes in the 1820s, however, and remembered, “Dr. Munro made his lectures on human anatomy as dull as he was himself.”
Charles Darwin sat in on the last of the Munros’ classes in the 1820s, however, and remembered, “Dr. Munro made his lectures on human anatomy as dull as he was himself.”
29
That led two enterprising Irish scoundrels, William Burke and William Hare, to offer a steady supply of dead bodies to anatomy professor Robert Knox with no questions asked—steady because they began murdering the victims themselves. When their hideous enterprise was revealed in 1829, the trial of Burke and Hare caused a major scandal. The grisly story inspired, among others, Robert Louis Stevenson’s short story “The Body Snatcher.” Knox himself was never charged, while Hare turned king’s evidence. William Burke went to the gallows—and ended up as a cadaver for dissection at the medical school. His skeleton is still there, preserved in its museum.
That led two enterprising Irish scoundrels, William Burke and William Hare, to offer a steady supply of dead bodies to anatomy professor Robert Knox with no questions asked—steady because they began murdering the victims themselves. When their hideous enterprise was revealed in 1829, the trial of Burke and Hare caused a major scandal. The grisly story inspired, among others, Robert Louis Stevenson’s short story “The Body Snatcher.” Knox himself was never charged, while Hare turned king’s evidence. William Burke went to the gallows—and ended up as a cadaver for dissection at the medical school. His skeleton is still there, preserved in its museum.
30
Here again, oddly enough, a Scot proved to be the pioneer: James “Paraffin” Young, who developed a technique for extracting kerosene from oil shale from the Lothian mountains in the 1840s, and created the foundations of the petroleum industry.
Here again, oddly enough, a Scot proved to be the pioneer: James “Paraffin” Young, who developed a technique for extracting kerosene from oil shale from the Lothian mountains in the 1840s, and created the foundations of the petroleum industry.
31
Legend has it the volunteers took the kiss and gave the guinea away to their neighbors.
Legend has it the volunteers took the kiss and gave the guinea away to their neighbors.
32
Literally hardheaded: one day Jardine was walking on the street in Canton when an iron bar fell from a construction site and hit him on the head. Jardine simply walked on. The Chinese gave him the nickname of Iron Head Rat—which was meant as a compliment.
Literally hardheaded: one day Jardine was walking on the street in Canton when an iron bar fell from a construction site and hit him on the head. Jardine simply walked on. The Chinese gave him the nickname of Iron Head Rat—which was meant as a compliment.
33
Ironically, Minto and Palmerston also happened to be Dugald Stewart’s pupils. Palmerston later wrote that studying with Stewart was where “I laid the foundations of whatever useful knowledge and habits of mind I possess.” A curious compliment, since it is hard to think of a man more immune to Stewart’s principled highmindedness than Palmerston.
Ironically, Minto and Palmerston also happened to be Dugald Stewart’s pupils. Palmerston later wrote that studying with Stewart was where “I laid the foundations of whatever useful knowledge and habits of mind I possess.” A curious compliment, since it is hard to think of a man more immune to Stewart’s principled highmindedness than Palmerston.
34
However, the ironies do not end there. In 1820 the Scotland-born commissioner for Assam in India, Robert Scott, found a strange species of camellia he had never seen before. He sent it to London for analysis: it turned out to be a wild tea plant. Within a generation, Indian-grown tea would shoulder the Chinese product out of the British market. If Palmerston and Minto had only waited, the demand for China tea would have faded and, with it, the need to smuggle opium. But then Hong Kong, Asia’s premier commercial city and modern China’s window onto the capitalist West, would not exist.
However, the ironies do not end there. In 1820 the Scotland-born commissioner for Assam in India, Robert Scott, found a strange species of camellia he had never seen before. He sent it to London for analysis: it turned out to be a wild tea plant. Within a generation, Indian-grown tea would shoulder the Chinese product out of the British market. If Palmerston and Minto had only waited, the demand for China tea would have faded and, with it, the need to smuggle opium. But then Hong Kong, Asia’s premier commercial city and modern China’s window onto the capitalist West, would not exist.
35
Even here, ironies abounded. As an English officer at the battle of Culloden, Wolfe had tried to save the life of young Fraser of Inverlochy, colonel of the Fraser regiment in Prince Charles’s army. Now, Wolfe commanded the Frasers as a British regiment, dying just as Fraser had, at the end of the battle. Prince Charles’s Scottish aide, the Chevalier Johnstone, also took part in the battle of Quebec—as an aide to Wolfe’s French opponent, General Montcalm.
Even here, ironies abounded. As an English officer at the battle of Culloden, Wolfe had tried to save the life of young Fraser of Inverlochy, colonel of the Fraser regiment in Prince Charles’s army. Now, Wolfe commanded the Frasers as a British regiment, dying just as Fraser had, at the end of the battle. Prince Charles’s Scottish aide, the Chevalier Johnstone, also took part in the battle of Quebec—as an aide to Wolfe’s French opponent, General Montcalm.
36
Elgin was the son of the Scottish diplomat who brought the Parthenon’s famous marble friezes from Athens to London, where they would remain as the Elgin Marbles.
Elgin was the son of the Scottish diplomat who brought the Parthenon’s famous marble friezes from Athens to London, where they would remain as the Elgin Marbles.
37
*Later, William Gladstone tried the same thing with Ireland that Elgin had done in Canada—unfortunately, with disastrous results.
*Later, William Gladstone tried the same thing with Ireland that Elgin had done in Canada—unfortunately, with disastrous results.
38
British railways had overcome this difficulty by adopting Greenwich Mean Time, long familiar to mariners and sailors. But an English traveler soon learned that clocks in Paris or Berne or Lisbon or even Calcutta kept a local time totally unrelated to what he considered the true hour of the day.
British railways had overcome this difficulty by adopting Greenwich Mean Time, long familiar to mariners and sailors. But an English traveler soon learned that clocks in Paris or Berne or Lisbon or even Calcutta kept a local time totally unrelated to what he considered the true hour of the day.
39
Those that do not trace their lines to Scotch-Irish immigrant Alexander Riley, who followed MacArthur in importing Saxon merino at his sheep station at Cavan.
Those that do not trace their lines to Scotch-Irish immigrant Alexander Riley, who followed MacArthur in importing Saxon merino at his sheep station at Cavan.
40
New Zealand’s origins were far less sinister than those of its sister colony to the west. It was founded by pious and business-minded Scotsmen, who first arrived in 1807 and never stopped coming. Scots set up the first permanent settlement at Petone, near Wellington, in 1840. John Logan Campbell owned the first ship to sail directly from England to New Zealand; he founded the city of Auckland and shipped the first cargo of New Zealand produce back to Britain in 1844. Otago was New Zealand’s first planned community, founded by Scotsman George Rennie. One of its leaders was Robert Burns’s nephew Reverend Thomas Burns. By 1861 almost a third of New Zealand’s population were Scots.
New Zealand’s origins were far less sinister than those of its sister colony to the west. It was founded by pious and business-minded Scotsmen, who first arrived in 1807 and never stopped coming. Scots set up the first permanent settlement at Petone, near Wellington, in 1840. John Logan Campbell owned the first ship to sail directly from England to New Zealand; he founded the city of Auckland and shipped the first cargo of New Zealand produce back to Britain in 1844. Otago was New Zealand’s first planned community, founded by Scotsman George Rennie. One of its leaders was Robert Burns’s nephew Reverend Thomas Burns. By 1861 almost a third of New Zealand’s population were Scots.
41
Unfortunately, the story does not end well. Having failed in the sheep business, Anaeas MacDonnell returned to Glengarry and died there in 1852. His widow was left with the same old debts and a young son. She settled the debts the only way she could, by clearing the last inhabitants from Knoydart.
Unfortunately, the story does not end well. Having failed in the sheep business, Anaeas MacDonnell returned to Glengarry and died there in 1852. His widow was left with the same old debts and a young son. She settled the debts the only way she could, by clearing the last inhabitants from Knoydart.
42
Livingstone published the first dictionary of Setsowma in 1852, and was the first European to realize that the various Bantu tongues belonged to the same linguistic family.
Livingstone published the first dictionary of Setsowma in 1852, and was the first European to realize that the various Bantu tongues belonged to the same linguistic family.
43
In fact, Princeton was the very first college to which the word
campus
applied. John Witherspoon had used the Latin word, meaning an open field, to describe the college’s site.
In fact, Princeton was the very first college to which the word
campus
applied. John Witherspoon had used the Latin word, meaning an open field, to describe the college’s site.
44
His mother’s father was Ulster-born Princeton president Samuel Finley, who had inspired Benjamin Rush and the last pre-Witherspoon generation of Princeton graduates.
His mother’s father was Ulster-born Princeton president Samuel Finley, who had inspired Benjamin Rush and the last pre-Witherspoon generation of Princeton graduates.
45
As secretary of the Smithsonian from 1846 until his death in 1878, Henry also created the National Weather Service.
As secretary of the Smithsonian from 1846 until his death in 1878, Henry also created the National Weather Service.
46
Here, as always, ironies abounded. The University of Edinburgh had been the conscious model for University College, London, when it was founded in 1810: the bulk of its first faculty were Scots or Scottish-trained.
Here, as always, ironies abounded. The University of Edinburgh had been the conscious model for University College, London, when it was founded in 1810: the bulk of its first faculty were Scots or Scottish-trained.
Copyright © 2001 by Arthur Herman
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published by Three Rivers Press, New York, New York.
Member of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of
Random House, Inc.
www.randomhouse.com
THREE RIVERS PRESS is a registered trademark and the Three Rivers
Press colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Herman, Arthur, 1956–
How the Scots invented the Modern World: the true story of how
western Europe’s poorest nation created our world and everything
in it / Arthur Herman.
1. Civilization, Modern—Scottish influences. 2. National
characteristics, Scottish. 3. Scotland—Civilization. 4. Scots. I. Title.
DA772.H53 2001
941.1—dc21 2001028951
eISBN : 978-0-307-42095-4
v1.0
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