The Past

Items from the past which intrigue and interest me. History is the most important subject we require after learning to read, write and count. If we ignore our past we do not know where we come from or where we stand in the world. The facts of history defeat the myths that we all grow up with. Truth drives out deception.

Friday, 29 January 2010

Field Marshal, Earl Haig



On the 29th of January 1928 Earl Haig, the Commander in Chief of British forces 1915-18 and founder of the British Legion, died. Haig has, in the United Kingdom at least, become one of the most controversial of figures. The general opinion of the man in the street being that Haig sat at his desk, well behind the lines, while his men fought and died in the horrific, mud filled trenches of the Great War. As with most things in life the truth is somewhat different.

Born in Edinburgh in 1861 into the wealthy whisky family of that name, Douglas Haig obtained a degree at Brasenose College, Oxford University and entered the Royal Military Acadamy at Sandhurst. Commissioned into the 7th Hussars Haig went to India in 1886 where his talents enabled him to progress through the ranks. He went to the Sudan where he saw action and later was involved in the Boer War in South Africa, serving under Sir John French, during the days of Britain's (always referred to as 'England' by the English) Empire phase. The 19th century saw a rise in nationalism as education and newspapers increased, and throughout Europe the imperialist urge was spent on far flung 'barbarian' lands. Haig, like most men of his time, went along with this. Would you have acted differently? After South Africa Haig returned to India, promoted to Colonel and worked under Lord Kitchener. His talents were rewarded when he became the youngest Major General in the British Army. 

In 1906 Haig worked with Lord Haldane on army reforms and at this time the British Army was redesigned into three parts. The many militia's developed some fifty years before were amalgamated and organised as a 'Terratorial Force,' for defence of the British homeland. Alongside this the British Expeditionary Force was created as the arm which would be sent into any conflict overseas. The third arm of the army was the 'Army in India,' that 'Jewel in the Crown!'   Haig also demanded a vast increase of the armed forces as he, like most others, foresaw the future conflict with Germany and desired a total manpower of just around one million men. By 1914 the total force was less than half of this number. Vast resources were being put into the building of the 'Dreadnought' battleships but less was being spent on the army. It must be remembered that at this time there was no conscription in the UK. This was not to arrive, against much opposition, until 1916. Around this time Haig, writing about the future conflict, made it clear the war would be one of attrition, there was no other way! Two massive industrial powers would meet with a mighty crash and a trial of strength until death would result. His enemies never mention this clear warning given long before the conflict erupted. I wonder why? 

When war broke out in August 1914, Kitchener, the most senior officer in the British Army informed the first war cabinet that he expected the war to last three years. They were shocked! In most peoples eyes three months would be enough to beat the enemy, but all military men knew that if the war of movement ended then the catastrophe of trench warfare would erupt. The American Civil war fifty years before had shown some of the expected results of such strife, and only a few years before the Balkans fighting between Greece, Serbia, Turkey, Montenegro and Bulgaria had shown this only to clearly. Violent trench warfare, bombs dropped from the air and artillery barrages indicated lessons many did not wish to notice.

In 1914 Haig was promoted to Lieutenant General and given command of I Corps, under Sir John French the Commander in Chief. He was in attendance during the Mons fighting and in late 1914 first Ypres saw some of the bravest fighting  conducted by the vastly outnumbered BEF. While making his way to the front line he was turned back by his own men and on returning to his HQ discovered a shell had landed on top of it devastating his staff! Meanwhile the fighting ended when a single line of Worcestershire's, plus whatever remnants remained, charged into the wood in which the battle was taking place and ended the German advance.One more German attack may well have won the war, however the British force, suffering huge casualties, had defeated an enemy that once again vastly outnumbered them. 

The British war was being hindered by a lack of resources, shells in particular were in short supply, and useful use of the media by Sir John French had led to a change of attitude in Britain towards the war. By 1915 it had been realised the war was not going to end soon, and after more failures to break through, Haig, by now a General, was appointed overall commander. The war had reached a new situation and while Haig had to deal with an ever enlarging army, some 100,000 belonged to the original BEF and the numbers had now swelled to well over a million with as many in training back home. The Germans had decided to make Verdun the place to exhaust the French army, forgetting that this would also exhaust their own! The fighting in Spring of that year led to around 350,000 casualties on either side and France was indeed bleeding to death. Haig had intended to make a 'Big Push' at Ypres in Flanders during that year but was forced by the French to fight at the Somme instead. This was not a place Haig wished to be as the ground was totally unsuitable for such warfare. The rolling chalk hills, the many woods dotted here and there, made it he wrong place for a battle. The Germans had long before dug themselves deep into the earth, at places well constructed tunnels with first aid posts and electric lighting, over forty feet deep, very safe from any barrage. The French insisted on fighting in July although Haig knew his army would not be ready until September. Joffre, the Commander of the French force, was almost in tears at the thought and Haig agreed to a late June date, in fact the rain led to the attack beginning on the 1st of July 1916. 



The battle was well planned and the 'New Army,' those thousands of volunteers from August 1914 who cheerfully enlisted from patriotic and other reasons, were to supply nine out of ten of those attacking. This led to an alteration of the tactics to suit their inexperience, while the General in charge, Rawlinson, wished a 'bite and hold' operation, Haig insisted on a full bloodied 'Push' to break the enemy defences. A million and a half shells were sent over on a full seven days barrage. The intent was to burst the deep trenches and cut the thick enemy wire. Some experienced men realised all was not well but the attack went in at 7:30 in the morning. It was a disaster! The shells had not cut the wire, many were dud and fixing the fuses was a difficult operation for an experienced gunner let alone a new man. Too few howitzers were available to destroy the deep trenches, and when the men left their own parapet they were cut down by an enemy desperate to get out into the daylight and fight back hard! Some in the south of the attack made good progress, others only broke through in small groups. A handful from the 16th Royal Scots, MacRae's Battalion, made it to Contalmaison and prisoner of war camp! Some advance was made and some trenches taken but overall almost 60,000 casualties were taken on the first few minutes of the battle! Haig however continued the fight until the end of November, what else could he do? His instructions were clear, support the French and remove the Germans from France and Belgium. It was clear there was no other way but to continue!



Major battles were fought in 1917 at Arras under General Allenby, and his reward was removal to Palestine to free Israel of the Turks. This at least he did successfully.  Then Haigs greatest battle, and the most controversial, Passchendaele! This battle, with the intention to break through to the North Sea ports can easily be seen as murder of an army!  First led by Gough's Fifth Army, which blundered about in the heavy rain and failed to make much impression. Then a second move led by Plumer which eventually reached Passchendaele itself. Thousands were dead, the broken rivers and irrigation systems flooded the land and the rain never stopped. Men drowned in shell holes, and when they fell from the slippery pathways. This was a hell on earth and none who served there ever forgot what they endured. Did Haig not realise the cost> Indeed he did. Why did he continue this battle? The only reason could be the French feebleness. Their treatment of their army was so bad that after the Nivelle offensive in 1916 the army went on strike! By late 1917 Haig would be unsure if the French could resist a German attack, and therefore it was important to keep the Germans bogged down. Bogged was probably the wrong word to use. It is clear that Plumer was not happy about continuing the fight as an officer at a meeting before Plumer's 2nd Army took over noted by his expression, this was Haig's order!

Even after reading all the available comment I doubt we will ever come to a proper conclusion regarding Haig and this battle.
During 1918 the Germans, afraid of the American armies now slowly arriving in France, brought their troops from the now closed Russian front and launched their last great effort to win the war. The British were the ones to face this onslaught for the most part and new tactics and weapons enable the Germans to made massive inroads into the British lines. However this did not last as the British, while forced back, still did not run, and the old Somme battlefields made it difficult tom transport weapons and supplies. Another problem for the Germans came when they discovered the huge stores, deliberately left, which supplied the British and French allies. Germany was starving and her armies knew it. Instead of attacking many stopped to rifle the stores and the shops behind the lines, including many wine cellars, and drunken soldiers refused orders and threatened officers while looting what they could. Eventually Haig and Foch, now supreme commander, stopped the German assault and Haig led the fightback which pushed the German attackers back all the way they had come, through the massive defence of the 'Hindenberg Line' and by November 11th 1918 the war was over.

Britain lost 750,000 dead during the Great War, some 300,000 still lie under foreign fields undiscovered! Almost all men who served were left wounded in body or mind, and thousands more died between the wars. Haig had led the nation to victory and was feted by the nation as a hero. he received £100,000 as a reward and became 'Earl Haig' in 1919 However during the war some had worried about the death toll, and Lloyd George the Prime minister had attempted to remove Haig from his position. The fact that there was no better person did not change the PM's mind. This devious man was afraid he would be blamed for the suffering and caused his friends in the press to blame the Generals for the losses. He omitted to state he was Prime Minister! This has led to many attacks on Haig in recent years and a general opinion that the war was a waste, nothing but muddy trenches and useless killing. There is much in that, but the Generals merely followed orders! Haig was always open to new tactics, although many claim this was not so. In fact he was so keen he rushed the tanks into action too soon, and was always looking for new weapons to finish the job. He was hindered by the PM forcing him to obey General Nivelle when it was clear Nivelle's plan was faulty, he was hindered by the PM refusing to allow new men to go to France, and the constant desire to send troops elsewhere, Gallipoli or Italy, in a vain attempt to win the easy way cost him many men and sometimes Generals! Haig was often attacked for sitting behind the line while his men died at the front. This of course is nonsense as he could only keep in touch with several armies, the French and Belgians, and his own government by being in an appropriate position. This was the same behaviour as Commanders of other armies yet only Haig is criticised? Italians and French, Russians and Germans lost more men than Britain did yet their Generals are lauded, not attacked and the reason has to be Lloyd George! His memoirs,which came out long after Haig was dead, blamed the generals for not caring for their men and wasting their lives. So why were the Generals not sacked? Because they were the best men for the job and those officers who kept close to Lloyd George made it clear he was the best man and the other Generals were in appropriate positions! Yet the smear campaign continues to this day!

Haig was not a brilliant General. He was not a good communicator, but he was the best available at the time, some claim only Plumer could have taken his place, others disagree. Haig made many mistakes, and  the fighting at Passchendaele must be seen as a mistake. Was he keen to stop the French being attacked or had he just lost control of his emotions through the trawl of the war? It is difficult to know. He was not however a man who disregarded his men or considered them cannon fodder. he did however know this was to be a war of attrition, said so before the war, and won the war using the only tactics available. Many who are experts in war disagree of course. 

His reward from the government he at first refused. Knowing the Prime Minister he would not accept anything until a pension for wounded soldiers had been passed. Made Baron Haig of Bemersyde in 1921 he spent many years with the British Legion attempting to provide for his wounded soldiers. He remains controversial, even though the last old soldier has passed away, but was he a hero or a villain? The real question is why were Generals of other armies considered hero's while Haig is not? 

Useful links:-


Battle of the Somme

Paschendaele

Echoes of the Great War

Hellfire Corner

                             

Saturday, 16 January 2010

British Speak



Let me introduce you to Max. Max is doing a study of British royalty at the moment and some folks may find this interesting. Max, a Yankee Doodle Dandy, has looked into those lesser royals from Victorian times, the ones that cost the nation so much but like their counterparts today don't actually do anything for anybody! As a Scot I see this lot as mere English folk using my money for no good reason, however I do enjoy Max's study of these people. Much of it I have come across before in a passing fashion and some things are new to me. All of it, like all history is always worth reading and I recommend you spend a while on his site.


Saturday, 26 December 2009

Alexander III King of Scots


Image from the excellent 'Fife Coastal Path' site

Alexander III became King of Scots at Scone, aged eight on the 13th of July 1249 on the death of his father Alexander II. During his minority he was was subject to the conflict between Walter Comyn, the Earl of Menteith, and Alan Durward, Justiciar of Scotia. The infighting being severe enough to have Alexander kidnapped at one point. In 1251 aged ten, he had been married to , Margaret, the daughter of Henry III. Henry, like all English Kings, attempted to bully the young Alexander into paying homage to him. Alexander stoutly refused as all Scots Kings ought to refuse! His strong temperament and his father's teaching had influenced him well.

However Comyn and Durward continued to fight over who influenced the King until at twenty one, Alexander attained his majority and ruled by himself. He immediately began to stake his claim on the Highlands and Islands at that time ruled by Norway under King Hakkon. The Norwegian King showed no intention of handing over his claim and a stand off ensued. Alexander's guile ensured negotiations lasted until autumn storms arrived and devastated Hakkons fleet. His victory was sweet and he had completed the task started by his father years before. He continued to build up his nation, creating a peaceable kingdom, stable and prosperous by his death. Farmers were encouraged to farm more land, wool was exported to the Low Countries, and trade flourished. Berwick on Tweed became the busiest port in the British Isles, until burnt to the ground and stolen by the thuggish Edward I

His first wife Margaret provided him with three children who, like their mother, all pre-deceased him, his grand-daughter Margaret, the 'Maid of Norway', was then named as his heir. He married again in the hope of achieving a male heir, Yolande, Comtesse de Montfort, on the 14th October 1285. His wife was young and attractive and the forty four year old was always keen on ladies. Therefore on 19th of March 1286, after meeting his court in Edinburgh he took it upon himself to visit her in Kinghorn, Fife. At the Queensferry the boatman refused to row him across, the night being dark and stormy and much effort was made to hinder the crossing. Few people are willing to risk the life of their king! Alexander however insisted and the crossing was made, so anxious was he to visit his young wife. Too much powdered rhino horn perhaps? In the darkness he became separated from his guide and disappeared. He was found, dead, near Pettycur, the next morning by the rocky shore. His horse had stumbled, or perhaps he went over the outcrop in the dark. The King was buried with due ceremony in Dunfermline Abbey.

was no Alexander and he bowed the knee to the English King becoming known thereafter as 'However the death of such a strong King led to trouble for Scotland. His only named heir, his grand-daughter, Margaret, was drowned in 1290 when the ship bringing her to Scotland went down in a storm. With no obvious heir infighting returned and Edward I the bullying imperialist of England, made his grab for Scotland, which he regarded, for no good reason, as his! With the crowning of John Balliol, on St Andrews Day, 30th November 1292, Edward had his way. Balliol Toom Tabard, the 'empty coat.' Edward attempted to occupy Scotland, giving rise to the noble defence by Sir William Wallace and others, leading in time to Scotland's independence being restored by King Robert the Bruce a few years later. Had Alexander been less keen on his lady Scotland would have been a very different place. Edward may have attacked but with such a popular King it is unlikely he would have been successful. Either way, the nation would have been a different place.


Links:-

Fife Coastal Path - History.

Undiscovered Scotland

Alexander III

Rampant Scotland

Alexander III

Alexander III, King of Scots

Marriage Document of the 'Maid of Norway.'


Monday, 24 August 2009

The Lancaster




My brother took this marvellous picture of the RAF 'Battle of Britain' group Lancaster passing over the house not long a go. The Lanc, alongside a Spitfire and Hurricane, can often be seen at displays and remembrance day ceremonies. As far as I can make out there are only two now in flying condition, this one and one in Canada, where hundreds were made during the war.

The Lancaster Bomber sums up the war period for many people. Possibly because from 1939 until 1944 this was the only way possible for Britain to hit back at Nazi Germany. There was no way, in spite of US pressure, to place troops onto mainland Europe until 1944. That was the time General Marshall. a great man in many ways, and his generals realised the benefit of Allanbrookes strategy. One reason that invasion was a success was the work of both the RAF, usually during the night, and the US air forces during the day, hammering the enemy defences. By wars end both air forces had lost 50,000 killed! This was the most hazardous operation, over several years, of the war!

The Lancaster was the brainchild of Roy Chadwick, the AVRO Chief designer. AVRO, named after the early aviator A.V.Roe, built many aircraft for the allies and the Lancaster was probably their most renowned. Originally Chadwick built a bomber called the 'Manchester.' This was not a great success as the 'Vulcan' engines were poor. However some 'Merlin' engines were 'acquired,' and as one man working on the project at the time stated, "During wartime one doesn't ask where did that come from?" and four of these reliable engines, on an enlarged wing, more or less created the 'Lancaster' Bomber! The majority were then built at AVRO's works near Oldham.

The large bomb bay enabled the aircraft to carry an 8,000 pound load, and later the 'Tallboy' bomb that eventually destroyed the 'Tirpitz' in her sheltered base. Armed with 8x 30 calibre machine guns and carrying a crew of seven, pilot, flight engineer, navigator, bombaimer, wireless operator, mid-upper and rear gunners, nearly all of them in their late teens and early twenties, the Lancaster made a total of 156,000 sorties dropping 608,612 tons of bombs. The damage was huge but the planes losses were horrendous. Between 1942 and 1945, a mere thirty five Lancaster's completed more than 100 successful operations, and three thousand two hundred and forty nine were lost in action. That's 3249 times seven crew members, many of whom were seriously wounded or dead. A mere ten Victoria Crosses were awarded to these men. This does not appear to be enough.

The most famous raid involving the aircraft is of course the "Dam Buster" raid of 1943. This raid killed more Russian slave workers, mostly female, than Germans, and hindered war production only for a few days, however the morale effect in Britain was tremendous! This was a massive propaganda spin, showing that we could hit back hard where it mattered. Of course the truth was different, and indeed 'pathetic' in the real meaning of the word, but that was not known at the time. I wonder if the 1955 film of the same name is the reason for the public's support of the Lancaster aircraft? While toned down it did reflect the danger and the effect to the audience who could remember the events of twelve years before. Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar was the twenty three year old commander of the operation. He received his VC after this operation, however in 1944 he insisted on returning to operational duties and was killed when his Mosquito aircraft crashed in Holland after being shot down. He was 26 at the time!

Later, while the Dutch population were starving, an operation to feed them was launched. The Germans stood back while 145 Mosquitoes and 3,156 Lancasters, flying between them a total of 3,298 dropped food stocks, in what became known as 'manna' after the story in Exodus!

Production of Lancasters ceased in 1946 when 7,366 had been completed. There were several derivations later, probably the 'Shackleton,' also known as 'A Million rivets flying in formation,' being the best known. Ex bomber pilots who entered the Shackleton were immediately taken back to their flying days by the smell above all other things!

While bombing is not the most popular activity, in war it is sometimes necessary, during WW2 the Lancaster did more than many to win that war. In spite of the losses and the suffering Bomber Command has yet to be awarded a medal for their actions in defeating the Nazi regime. This one fact remains a UK disgrace!

Monday, 10 August 2009

Scre top bottles


On this day in 1889 Dan Rylands patented the 'Screwcap!'
So what you ask? Well just look around you and investigate how many bottle, holding a wide variety of liquids, are contained in such screw caps, or screw tops as they tend to be called today.

Dan Rrylands was working at the Hope Glass Works in Barnsley, a company his father Ben had begun when in partnership with Hiram Codd, the man who designed the famous 'Codd Bottle. The bottle that kept the ingredients fresh by the use of a highly ingenious marble in the opening. While screwcaps had been patented they were not to successful until the nineteen twenties when the 'White Horse Distillers' began using them and saw their sales increase dramatically because of this. The cork stopper remained in some whisky bottles for years but the screw top had come to stay! Cork stoppers in wine bottles remain popular today, as some believe this reflects 'quality.' It doesn't of course as the screwtop is far more secure in retaining freshness and is easier to reseal! However the impression of quality (and cost) is more important to some than taste. We are strange people are we not?

Give thanks to the somewhat pushy but clever Dan Rylands. Some among us would have spilled their lunch more often than we would care to remember if it had not been for his work! Isn't that right Mike?

Saturday, 8 August 2009

The Stone of Destiny

On the eighth of August in the year 1296 Edward I, the 'bully boy' King of England, stole the 'Stone of Destiny' from Scone. This act of theft was a reflection of his imperialist greed which saw him attempt not only to make France part of the Kingdom of 'England,' but Wales and Scotland also! His invasion of Wales can be considered a success, although the massive castles built there show just how 'popular' he was, and Scotland, then as now, has never been reduced to a mere part of 'Greater England' in spite of the belief of some there that this is indeed the case.

There being no evidence of the origin of the stone it is natural that many legends arise. The daftest probably associates the stone as the one used by Jacob as a pillow (found in Gen 28:11 as you know) when he rested on his way to Paddan Aram. Somehow this great stone appears a little large for a pillow. Some claim Irish Gaels brought the stone with them when they came to Scotland, and that later this same stone was carried about by Columba as he preached his message. Quite why the Gaels needed to bring the large stone, unless it had some deep significance escapes me, Scotland having quite a lot of stone already. As for Columba carrying a stone weighing 24 stone (about 150 Kg) about with him, well, would you? Legends with no evidence are best put to one side while awaiting more information.

However around 847 Kenneth MacAlpin was crowned King of Scots on the stone! Note he was 'King of Scots' and not 'King of Scotland.' The Scots have always been a democratic people, and the land did not belong to the king, just the hearts of the people! Of course if he lost their hearts he may well democratically lose his head, but hey, all jobs have difficulties don't they? Since that time all Scots Kings were crowned on the small hill in front of Scone Abbey while sitting on the stone.

A small point here. The place name 'Scone' is pronounced 'Scoon,' while the scone you eat (yummy) is pronounced 'Scon.' Failure to notice this difference makes you English, and you wouldn't wish that on anyone would you?

Whatever the origins of the stone by removing it to Westminster Edward probably wanted people to believe he was 'King of Scotland.' How wrong he was! The great patriot William Wallace was the leader of many who stood against him until turncoats handed him over to the invader. Charging him with treason Edward reveals the false belief of 'owning' Scotland. Treason could only be charged against a citizen England, yet Wallace was hanged, drawn and quartered for 'treason!' English barbarity is shown here, Scots guilty of treason would merely have lost their heads and no enjoyment of brutality was required.


The stone was placed under 'Prince Edwards Chair,' used in almost all coronations since, and remained there until John majors government, desperate for Scots votes, returned the stone to Edinburgh in 1996. The grateful Scots voted in a suitable manner and Scotland ceased to have any Conservative Members of Parliament! Naturally there are those stories claiming that monks hid the stone and the one we now possess is a mere copy. The 'hidden' stone has been well hidden, it has never been discovered, and in spite of the conspiracy theories we probably do know the whereabouts of the original.

Come Christmas Day 1950 four enterprising students did the decent thing and stole the stone from Westminster Abbey. After hiding it for a while, and after breaking it while removing it, it was returned to Scotland where it was repaired. Eventually however they decided to hand it back. Going to Arbroath Abbey they left it on the altar there and soon it was back in Westminster. I still say it ought never to have been returned! Of course stories claim this is not the original but a copy, oh yeah?



Now the 'Stone of Destiny' lies here in Edinburgh Castle, in Scotland's capital and where it belongs. Some say that if there is another coronation the stone will be returned to Westminster for the ceremony, personally whoever becomes the next King ought to be crowned in Edinburgh if they wish to be 'King of Scots.' That surely is the right way to do things.


Visit Scotland

Stone of Destiny

Historic UK - the History of Scotland



Wednesday, 8 July 2009

Sir Henry Raeburn

Sir Henry Raeburn
On this day, the eighth of July 1823, the renowned Edinburgh portrait artist Sir Henry Raeburn, died.

Henry Raeburn was the son of a textile mill owner living in Stockbridge on the edge of the growing Edinburgh New Town in 1756 and orphaned early. He was to become the foremost portrait painter of his day. In spite of the loss of his father his brother was able to obtain a place for him at George Heriots school, then of course called a 'hospital,' and later Henry became an apprentice to a goldsmith. His work there involved painting small item of jewellery and he began to paint water colour miniatures of his friends. His talent was recognised and encouraged by David Martin the portraitist.
In 1778 he achieved mans greatest hope, he married a wealthy widow! Anne Leslie, the widow of John, the 11th Earl of Rothes who had died the year before, commissioned him to paint her portrait and one wonders just how smooth a chat up line he used as they were married a month later! Anne Leslie was a dozen years his senior and already possessed three children however now he could afford to devote himself to painting full time.

The Skating Minister Robert Walker

The Deanhaugh Estate came with the marriage, and this at a time Edinburgh was expanding through the building of the New Town. Purchasing the neighbouring St Bernard's estate as the New Town building continued he amassed a fortune owing to the 'Feu' (tax) Duty to be paid. Therefore free from financial care he and his wife travelled to Italy, a popular, though uncomfortable, tour at the time, and on his return in 1787 opened his studio in fashionable George Street, still one of the richest streets in the UK! Later he moved to York Place where his enlarged windows apparently can still be seen! In those studios Raeburn, influenced by such as Joshua Reynolds, painted the leading members of Scotland's society of the day! In all painting over seven hundred portraits. Amongst his sitters were Walter Scott and Robert Walker, possibly his most famous portrait. Others who sat included James Hutton, Neil Gow, Adam Ferguson and David Hume.


As is normal in the 'United Kingdom' Raeburn was somewhat ignored because he did not move to London, travelling there only occasionally. However he did therefore have a strong influence on Scottish art in the 19th century, and became a member of the Royal Society in 1815. He was later knighted by King George IV at Hopetoun House in Edinburgh in 1822.





More portraits here -

Scotland's Source