BURNS CORRIDOR of ICONS

[Geoff]

How many iconic figures have existed within (or just outside) Burns Corridor?
Visit places within this small tract of land in south west Scotland which harboured so many men and women who had an affect on the world. The 1st true bicycle, the 1st steam boat, the 1st MacAdam road, the 1st gas street light, etc.
When you catch site of a monument or plaque, stop for a minute to take a look at what it says. There are some interesting information plaques available enlightening visitors (and locals) with the Corridor's past, eg in Dumfries, Sanquhar, Kilmarnock:
www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/corpres/news/display_story.asp?StoryID=2065

In and around Sanquhar a series of plaques on various buildings takes you on an historic walk round the town, with a leaflet being available in the local tourist office. The same goes for Dumfries and some other towns within Burns Corridor.

[Red=During lifetime of Robert Burns]

17th to 20th century:
William (Blair) Cochrane (1605-1686) born in Ayrshire. 1st Earl of Dundonald, army officer and politician. Founded the Dundonald Bursaries.
William Paterson (1658-1719) born near Tinwald, Dumfries. Founder of the Bank of England
John Montgomerie (? -1731) Giffen near Beith, Ayrshire. Colonel. Colonial Governor of New York and New Jersey from 1728 to 1731.
Richard Oswald (1705-1784)
Mary (Ramsay) Oswald (- 1788) www.robertburns.org/encyclopedia/Auchincruive.63.shtml
John Goldie (1717 - 1809) www.robertburns.org/encyclopedia/GoldieJohn17171511809.397.shtml
Patrick Miller (1730-1815) www.robertburns.org/encyclopedia/MillerofDalswintonPatrick17311511815.621.shtml
John Paul Jones (1747-92) www.jpj.demon.co.uk/index.htm
Sir Gilbert Blane (1749 - ) born in Blanefield, near Kirkoswald, Ayrshire.
William Murdoch (1754-1839) Born at Bello Mill, Lugar, Ayrshire
John Loudon MacAdam (1756-1836) Born in Ayr
Gavin Turnbull (1758 - 1801), born in Kilmarnock. Minor poet.
Robert Burns (1759-1796) born Alloway, two miles south of Ayr.
Isabel or Bell M’Ghie (1760-1836) born at Kelton, Dumfriesshire, later residing at Beith, Ayrshire. ‘Last of the Ayrshire witches’.
George Campbell (1761-1818),
William Symington (1763-1831) born in Leadhills, Dumfriesshire
Sir James Shaw (1764-1843) born in Riccarton, Ayrshire. Former Lord Mayor of London.
Sir Thomas Makdougall Brisbane (1773-1860) Largs, Ayrshire. Major-General, 1st Baronet, GCH, GCB, soldier, colonial Governor and astronomer.
Rev. Henry Duncan (1774-1846) born in Lochrutton, near Dumfries. www.savingsbanksmuseum.co.uk/henry_duncan.html
John Wilson (1774 -1855) Cumnock born artist. Painter of The Battle of Trafalgar.
James Thomson (1775 - 1832). Kilmarnock poet. Thomson's "Ayrshire Miscellany."
Henry Eckford (1775-1832) born in Irvine, Ayrshire.
John Galt (1779-1839) born in Irvine in 1779. www.ask.com/wiki/John_Galt_(novelist)
Walter Newall (April 3, 1780-1863) born at Doubledykes near New Abbey moved, age 3, to Airdrie Farm at Kirkbean. Cabinetmaker, Engineer, Architect
Thomas Morton (1783-1862 ) born in Mauchline, Ayrshire.
James Tannock (1784 - 1863) born in Kilmarnock. Artist
William Tannock born in Kilmarnock. Artist
Sir John Richardson (1787-1865) born in Dumfries, Dumfriesshire. Surgeon, naturalist and explorer.
Hugh Clapperton (1788-1827) born in Annan, Dumfriesshire Explorer.
John Kennedy (1789 - 1833).
Betsy Miller (1790-1864) born in Saltcoats, Ayrshire. 1st woman captain.
James Steadman (1790-1865) (inventor of Screw Propeller)
Edward Irving (1792-1834) born in Annan, Dumfriesshire. Clergyman.
John Dick (1792-1860) by 1839 held five eighths of Ayr Observer.
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) born in Ecclfechen, Dumfriesshire. Historian.
John Fulton (1800-1854) born in Fenwick, Ayrshire drove forward the Industrial Revolution.
Johnnie Walker (1805-1857)
Edgar Alan Poe (1809-1849) was schooled in Irvine
James George Smith Neill (1810-1857) born in Dalry, Ayrshire. Brigadier-General. Cawnpore.
Kirkpatrick Macmillan (1813-1878) Born in Keir Mill near Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.
Andrew Barclay (1815-1900) born in Dalry, Ayrshire. Enginesmith.
Dr Thomas Boyle Grierson (1818-1889) born in Dumfries.
James Dick (1823-1902) born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Millionaire
Maxwell Dick (inventor)
Alexander Smith (1829-67)
James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879) born in Glenlair, nr St John's Town of Dalry, Dumfries & Galloway
Sir Thomas McIlwraith KCMG (1835-1900) born in Ayr. Premier of Queensland from 1877 to 1883, again in 1888, and for a third time in 1893.
Joseph Heughan (1837-1902) of Auchencairn, Kirkcudbrightshire.
John Boyd Dunlop (1840-1921) born Dreghorn, Ayrshire.
Andrew Gibson (1841) born New Cumnock, Ayrshire on 23rd Dec.
Robert Mclean Cumnock. - (1844- ) Born in Ayr, Scotland. May 31. www.northwestern.edu/magazine/northwestern/winter2003/features/communication/index.htm
John Mathieson (1845 - 1906) Pathhead, New Cumnock, Ayrshire. Railway Pioneer. www.gutenberg.org/files/17299/17299-h/17299-h.htm Chapter 11, p64.
Joseph Thomson (1856-1940) born in Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. Explorer.
William Fife III (1857-1944) born in Fairlie. Yacht designer and builder.
Joseph Thompson (1858-1895)
J M Barrie (1860-1937) was educated at the Academy, Dumfries.
Andrew Fisher (1862-1921) born in Crosshouse, Ayrshire. Prime Minister of Australia 3 times.
George Douglas Brown: Born: 26 January 1869 Ochiltree, Ayrshire
Died: 28 August 1902
www.electricscotland.com/history/men/brown_george_d.htm
Peter Pan (1870's) born in the garden of Moat Brae House, Dumfries. Writen about by JM Barrie in 1904.
John Boyd Orr (1880-1971) 1st Baron Boyd-Orr, CH, DSO, MC born in Kilmaurs, Ayrshire.
Sir Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) born at Lochfield Farm near Darvel in Ayrshire, Scotland.
John Johnson (1881) born Clackleith, Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, 21st July.
Jane Haining (1897-1944) born in Dunscore, Dumfriesshire. www.dunscore.org.uk/jane-haining.html
John Laurie (1897-1980) born in Dumfries, Dumfriesshire. Actor.
John Grierson (1898 - 1972) Kilmarnock. Documentary film maker.
John Maxwell (1905-1962) born in Dalbeattie, Dumfriesshire. Painter.
William (Bill) Shankly (1913-1981) born in Glenbuck, Ayrshire. Liverpool manager (and saint).
Gavin Maxwell (1914-?)
Hamish MacInnes (1930- ) born in Gatehouse of Fleet, Galloway Scottish mountaineer and writer.
Rose Reilly (1955- )from Stewarton, Ayrshire. A list as long as your arm in honours. Member of Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.
George Burley (1956-)
Sir Thomas Blane Hunter (NCB)(1961- ) born in New Cumnock, Ayrshire. Scotland's first billionaire.
Chris J Rollie Writer (NCB)
The Twelve Apostles (near Dumfries)

'Ayrshires' ; coos and tatties.
Dunlop Cheese.
The town of Kirkcudbright has been well known as an artist's haven since: Sir James Guthrie, E.A. Hornel, Jessie King, W.Y. McGregor, S.J. Peploe and E.A. Taylor and other notable 20th century artists had their base there.

Discussion at:
www.robertburnsfederation.co.uk/p....965fc7dd148162d

[Geoff]

Thomas Soulis ((?)1244-1304) Kilmarnock & Giffen (nr Beith), Ayrshire. Scottish “rebel”.
William Soulis (? - before 1321?) Butler of Scotland. Perhaps Dean Castle, Kilmarnock.
Robert Boyd
Patrick Dunbar
Marjorie Comyn
John Balliol (c.1249-c. 25 November 1314) of Galloway. Elected King of Scots
William Wallace (NCB)(12??-1305) "King Of Kyle". Born near New Cumnock (prove me wrong), Ayrshire, executed/murdered in London.
Robert the Bruce (1274-1329) born at Turnberry, Carrick. King of Scotland from 25 March 1306
Robert II (1316-1390) born in Dundonald, Ayrshire, became King of Scots in 1371

[Geoff]

James Crichton (August 1560 - 1582), born at Eliock in Dumfriesshire, styled the "Admirable Crichton” from his extraordinary mental and physical endowments. Son of Robert Crichton of Eliock, lord advocate of Scotland, and Elizabeth Stuart, only daughter of Sir James Stuart of Beith. Eliock-house, on Eliock-burn, in the Nith valley, has the apartment in which James was born, carefully preserved in its original state. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Crichton

[Geoff]

Bessie Dunlop (-1576) known as “The Witch of Dalry (Ayrshire)”.
Although she was seen as a white witch, she was burned at the stake in 1576 .
www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/scotland/ayrshire/occult/bessie-dunlop-the-witch-of-dalry.html

[Geoff]

William Cochrane (1605-1686):
Born in Ayrshire, Cochrane was educated at Paisley Grammar School and Glasgow University, becoming an army officer and politician and founding the Dundonald Bursaries.
Christened William Blair but adopting his wife’s surname, Cochrane, he inherited her family's estate near Paisley. He became a major landowner in Ayrshire and Fife and represented the former at the Scottish parliament in 1641, when he was knighted by King Charles I. He was granted the title 1st Lord Cochrane of Dundonald in 1647 and was created 1st Earl of Dundonald and 1st Lord Cochrane of Paisley and Ochiltree in 1669.
books.google.co.uk/books?id=wEFuRPsYHwwC&pg=PA233&dq=%22William+Cochrane,+1st+Earl+of+Dundonald%22&cd=2#v=onepage&q=%22William%20Cochrane%2C%201st%20Earl%20of%20Dundonald%22&f=false
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_of_Dundonald
Thomas Cochran:
www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Thomas_Cochrane,_10th_Earl_of_Dundonald

[Geoff]

Colonel John Montgomerie (? -1731) Giffen near Beith, Ayrshire.
Colonial Governor of New York and New Jersey from 1728 to 1731.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Montgomerie
The Library of John Montgommerie:
books.google.co.uk/books?id=ZZtnYNZHMh0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=John+Montgomerie+(%3F+-1731)+new+york&source=bl&ots=7BAiZ__RpC&sig=xA2YmYfvjdqW0-ZNTv1yzlhkMGo&hl=en&ei=N1DlS7ynGYn-0gSDz_m0AQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDsQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q&f=true
Page 15
At the time, Jamaica position went to a former governor of New York and New Jersey, Robert Hunter, also from Ayrshire.

[Geoff]

Major General Robert Hunter Governor of Virginia and New York, 1710-19
of Hunterston, Ayrshire died, Governor of Jamaica, in 1734. “His administration proved to be the most successful in the annals of American Colonial history.”

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hunter_(governor)

Se here an article reprinted from the Hunterdon
Co. Historical Society Newsletter,
Flemington, New Jersey U.S.A. (c. 1963).
clanhuntercanada.com/PDF_Newsletters/jul2003.pdf

[Geoff]

Also see:
Scottish History Time-line (18th Century)

www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/timeline1799.html

[Geoff]

Robert Tannahill (June 3, 1774 – May 17, 1810) was a Scottish poet. Known as the 'Weaver Poet', his music and poetry is contemporaneous with that of Robert Burns. He was born in Paisley to a weaving family and was apprenticed in the same trade from the age of 12. His mother was Janet Pollock from Boghall Farm near Beith and his father was James Tannahill from Kilmarnock.

[Geoff]

Please help us find more information on:

Robert Mclean Cumnock. — Born in Ayr, Scotland, May 31, 1844.
www.northwestern.edu/magazine/northwestern/winter2003/features/communication/index.htm

Univ. Professor; born Scotland. Son of Robert McLean and Margaret (Goodlet) Comnock; A.B. Wesleyan Univ 1868; A.M. 1871; (L.H.D. , Dickson Coll 1903); married Annie Webster of Evanston, IL 1877; 2 sons: Wallace W. and Claude B. Prof rhetoric and elocution since 1868; also prof. elocution and oratory Garrett Bibl. Inst.; dir. and instr. vocal expression and dramatic action and Shakespearian and bible reading, School of Oratory of Northwestern University. Author: Cumnock's Choice Readings, 1881; Cumnock's School speaker 1887. Methodist. Member Phi Beta Kappa, Psi Upsilon. Residence 1804 Hinman Av., Evanson, IL.

The Cumnock School, Los Angeles, California
The CUMNOCK bears the name of an inspiring interpreter of literature and life. Dr. Robert McLean Cumnock, for many years the head of the School of Oratory in Northwestern University.
Zeta Phi Eta is the oldest national group of its kind - it was founded on October 10, 1893 under the inspiration and guidance of Dr. Robert McLean Cumnock.

[Geoff]

"Peter Pan's Neverland could become forever-land"

JM Barrie played in the back garden of Moat Brae, a late Georgian villa in the rural town of Dumfries, as a boy.
It inspired Neverland, the magical kingdom where Peter Pan and Tinkerbell flew into battle against Captain Hook, an adventure that captured the imaginations of millions of real-life children.

www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2011/aug/02/peter-pan-neverland-foreverland

[Geoff]

Would it not make sense to have a cycling event from Dumfries to Glasgow or even from Drumlanrig to Dumfries to commemorate Kirkpatrick MacMillan's achievements?

London 2012: Torch route through Scotland revealed
[The symbolic flame will begin the Scottish leg of its journey at Stranraer on 8 June.
Some of the 816 people selected to carry the torch as it journeys through 119 communities in Scotland will be informed in December.
During the six days it spends in Scotland, the flame will travel nearly 900 miles (1,448km).
The route has been chosen to include iconic Scottish backdrops including the Forth Bridge, St Andrews Golf Club and Loch Ness.
It will also take in Orkney, Shetland and Lewis.
The opening ceremony for the London 2012 games takes place on 27 July.] www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15614072


[The first man to fit pedals to a bicycle was Kirkpatrick MacMillan, a blacksmith of Courthill, Kier, Dumfriesshire, in 1839 or 1840. On June 8th, 1842, he was fined 5/- at Gorbals Police Court, Glasgow, for riding on the footpath and knocking down a child. MacMillan drove his rear wheel by cranks and swinging levers, and steered his front wheel by direct sloping forks. No doubt he started and gathered speed by the old Hobbyhorse method, and did not pedal till his machine was travelling at a fair rate.]
www.gracesguide.co.uk/Bartleet%27s_Bicycle_Book

Day 21 (JUNE 8th) - Stranrear to Glasgow.
Day 34 (JUNE 21st) Dumfries to Windermere.

Kirkpatrick was born 200 years ago next year.

[Geoff]

All you want to know about GD Bown and the House With The Green Shutters, Ochiltree, 2 miles from Dumfries House, Ayrshire.

www.electricscotland.com/history/men/brown_george_d.htm