Editorial

27 April 1296: John Balliol's Scottish forces were defeated by an English army led by John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey at the battle of Dunbar. 27 April 1650: A Royalist army of Orcadian levies...

26 April 1711: The birth in Edinburgh of David Hume, the most influential thinker of the Scottish Enlightenment and one of the greatest philosophers of all time.

25 April 1710: The birth near Rothiemay of Scottish astronomer James Ferguson. Ferguson gained fame through his travelling lectures and easy-to-understand works on the basics of astronomy, despite never receiving formal training. He learned...

24 April 1558: 15-year-old Mary Queen of Scots marries 14-year-old Francoise, Dauphin of France in Paris. As part of the marriage contract, Mary agreed to bequeath Scotland to France if she should die without...

23 April 1733: Construction of Tay Bridge at Aberfeldy began when Lieutenant-General George Wade placed the first stone. The bridge was designed by William Adam and cost £4095 5s 10d. It was part of...

22 April 1304: Edward I of England began the siege of the strategically important Stirling Castle, held by Sir William Oliphant and 30 men. The siege ended on 24 July after 3 months of...

21 April 1703: Following a number of devastating fires in the city of Edinburgh, the Edinburgh Act was passed for the formation of a ‘Company for Quenching of Fires’. 21 April 1746: The City of...

20 April 1644: After seizing the town of Dumfries for Charles I with a force of English Royalists on 15 April, James Graham, Earl of Montrose was forced to withdraw back into England when...