1811 in Scotland explained

Events from the year 1811 in Scotland.

Incumbents

Law officers

• Lord Advocate – Archibald Colquhoun
• Solicitor General for Scotland – David Boyle; then David Monypenny

Judiciary

• Lord President of the Court of Session – Lord Avontoun until 20 May; then Lord Granton
• Lord Justice General – The Duke of Montrose
• Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Granton, then Lord Boyle

Events

• 9 January – the first women's golf tournament in Scotland takes place at the links of the Musselburgh Golf Club.^[1]
• 1 February – Bell Rock Lighthouse begins operation.^[2]
• March – Prisoner-of-war camp established at Penicuik.
• 27 May – second national Census. In Scotland the count is carried out by schoolmasters.^[3]
• June – Walter Scott buys the farm at Abbotsford near Galashiels and commences building his future residence, Abbotsford House.
• August – passengers are being carried on the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway, in horse-drawn vehicles.^[4]
• November – Thomas Telford's bridge at Bridge of Alford is completed.^[5]
• 31 December – Tron riot breaks out in Edinburgh.
• Highland Clearances – the Marquess and Marchioness of Stafford begin mass expulsion of crofting tenants from their Highland estates to make way for sheep farming.^{[6] [7]}
• Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal completed throughout.
• Helmsdale and Torgoyle Bridges completed to the design of Thomas Telford.^{[8] [9]}
• Inner harbour at Wick completed to the design of Thomas Telford.^[10]
• Harbour at Kirkwall (Orkney) first built.^[5]
• Harbour at Dunure built at the expense of Archibald Kennedy, 12th Earl of Cassilis. Dunrobin pier is also built about this date.^[5]
• Remodelling of the House of the Binns in Scottish Baronial style by William Burn for the Dalyell family.
• Rebuilding of Stobo Castle completed.
• The Edinburgh Society for the Support of Gaelic Schools is established.^[11]
• Edinburgh Astronomical Institution established.
• Sinking of a new colliery on the Brora Coalfield is begun.^[5]
• Approximate date – John Paton begins his own yarn spinning business in Alloa.

Births

• January – Robert Dick, natural historian (died 1866)
• c. May – Thomas Larkins Walker, architect practicing in England (died 1860 in Hong Kong)
• 7 June – James Simpson, obstetrician and pioneer of anaesthesia (died 1870)
• 13 July – James "paraffin" Young, chemist (died 1883)
• 14 August – Adam Clark, civil engineer (died 1866 in Budapest)
• 12 September – William Bell Scott, artist and poet (died 1890)
• 19 December – Marjorie Fleming, child writer (born 1803)
• 21 December – Archibald Tait, Archbishop of Canterbury (died 1882)
• Christian Maclagan, antiquary (died 1901)

Deaths

• 20 May – Robert Blair, Lord Avontoun, lawyer (born 1741)
• 28 May – Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, politician (born 1742)
• 14 September – James Grahame, poet, lawyer and clergyman (born 1765)
• 15 October – George Hay, Roman Catholic bishop (born 1729)
• 27 November – Andrew Meikle, mechanical engineer and inventor (born 1719)

See also

• 1811 in Ireland

Notes and References

1. Web site: Chronology of Scottish History. A Timeline of Scottish History. Rampant Scotland. 2014-03-05.
2. Book: Penguin Pocket On This Day. Penguin Reference Library. 0-14-102715-0. 2006.
3. Web site: The 1811 Census. 1911Census.org.uk. 2011. 2014-03-05.
4. The Glasgow Herald 30 August 1811.
5. Book: Hume, John R.. The Industrial Archaeology of Scotland. II: The Highlands and Islands. London. Batsford. 1977. 0-7134-0809-X.
6. Web site: George Granville Leveson-Gower (1st Duke of Sutherland). Gazetteer for Scotland. 2010-11-10.
7. Web site: Noble. Ross. The Cultural Impact of the Highland Clearances. BBC. British History in-depth. 15 October 2010. 2010-11-10.
8. Web site: Helmsdale Bridge. Highland HER. The Highland Council. 2012. 2014-08-11.
9. Web site: Torgoyle Bridge. Canmore. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. 2014-08-17.
10. Web site: Wick Harbour and Breakwater. Engineering Timelines. 2014-08-11.
11. Book: Thomson, Derick S.. The Companion to Gaelic Scotland. Oxford. Blackwell. 1983. 0631155783. 258.