Significant and Famous Scots
(This section is about Scottish born people who made a difference)

A lot of the entries in here come from the book "Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen" originally edited by Robert Chambers and then the new edition along with the supplemental volume says by the Rev. Thos. Thomson.  It was published by Blackie and Son of Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London in 1856. Would also like to recognise the work of Jeanette Simpson who has worked very hard to type all this in for us.

Should you be able to provide a brief biography of a Significant Scot that we don't list we'd be delighted to receive it for inclusion in here. Simply email it to Alastair McIntyre

Select the Surname Letter of the person you are looking for and if you don't find the person then do also use our site search engine at the top of the page.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Here is a list of other web pages where you can find out more about individual Scots...

• Check out our Scots Women in History section
  This includes the Ladies of the Covenant
• Dictionary of British National Biography
  Edited by Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee in 63 volumes with also 5 supplementary volumes.
• The Scottish Nation
  This is a large 3 volume publication giving you information on names and significant people of the name.
• Biographica Britannica
  OR, The Lives of the Most eminent persons Who have flourished in Great Britain and Ireland from the earliest Ages, down to the present Times. Collected from the best Authorities, both Printed and Manufcript, And digested in the Manner of Mr Bayle's Historical and Critical Dictionary.
• The Scottish-American History Club
  Found this site while browsing on the web and it contains a number of newsletters each of which profiles a Scots-American which make a very interesting read.
• Scots Pioneers in Medicine
  A most interesting summary of Scots pioneers in medicine.
• Scottish Technologists and Scientists
  Here is a list of Scottish Technologists and Scientists
• Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame [external link]
• Lives of the Engineers
  With an account of their principle works; comprising also a history of inland communication in Britain by Samuel Smiles in three volumes. (1861)
• Did you know that 61% of American Presidents have a Scottish ethnic background?
• Check out the Scots Independent's "Oliver Brown Award" winners
• Memoirs and Portraits of One Hundred Glasgow Men
  This is a collection held at Glasgow University
• Dundee Celebrities of the Nineteenth Century
  Being a series of Biographies of Distinguished or Noted Persons connected by Birth, Residence, Official Appointment, or Otherwise, with the Town of Dundee; and who have died during the present century. Compiled by W. Norrie (1873)
• Lives of Eminent Men of Aberdeen
  Compiled by W. Norrie (1873) (pdf)
• Dundee Celebtities of the Nineteenth Century
  By James Bruce (1890) (pdf)
• The Book of Scotsmen
  Eminent for Achievements in Arms and Arts, Church and State, Law, Legislation, and Literature, Commerce, Science, Travel, and Philanthropy by Joseph Irving (1880) (pdf)
• Dictionary of National Biography
  Is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885 [external link]
• Scottish Eccentrics
  By Hugh MacDiarmid (1936) (pdf)
• Portraits of the High Officers and Professors of The University of Edinburgh
  At its Tercentenary Festival Drawn and Etched by William Hole A.R.S.A. (1884) (pdf)
• Eminent Arbroathians
  Being Sketches historical, genealogical, and biographical 1178-1894 by J, M, M'Bain (1897) (pdf)
• Short Biographies of the People
  By Various Writers and while not all Scotsmen they do include Scots Dr John Abercrombie, James Hamilton, Sir James Young Simpson, George Wishart and Robert Moffat (1800) (pdf)
• The Balladists
  By John Geddie (1900) (pdf)
• A New Biographical Dictionary
  Containing concise notices of eminent Persons of all ages and countries and more particularly of distinguished natives of Great Britain and Ireland by Thompson Cooper FSA (1873) (pdf)
• Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Philosophers [External Link]
• Dictionary of Scottish Architects
  The Dictionary of Scottish Architects (DSA) is a database providing biographical information and job lists for all architects known to have worked in Scotland during the period 1660-1980, whether as principals, assistants or apprentices. [External Link]
• The Lord Chancellors of Scotland
  From the Institution of the Office to the Treaty of Union by Samuel Cowan, J.P. in two volumes (1911)
• Memoirs of Scottish Catholics
  During the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries, selected from hitherto inedited MSS by William Forbes Leith S. J. in two volumes. (1909)
• Select Biographies
  Edited for the Woodrow Society, chiefly from Manuscripts of the Faculty of Advocates by the Rev. W. K. Tweedie in two volumes (1845)
• Brave Spirits
  By Georgina Sime and Frank Nicholson (1952) (pdf)
• Some Nineteenth Century Scotsmen
  Being personal recollections by William Knight, Professor of Philosophy in the University of St. Andrews (1908) (pdf)
• Biographies of Working Men
  By Grant Allen, B.A. (1890) (pdf)
• The Peerage of the British Empire
  As at present existing arranged and printed from the personal communications of the Nobility by Edmund Lodge Esq., Norroy King of Arms, &c. to which is added, the Baronetage, twelfth edition, with the arms of the Peers (1843) (pdf)
• Highlanders of Scotland
  Being a series of Portraits, with biographical and historical notices illustrative of the principle clans and followings, and the retainers of the royal household at Balmoral in the reign of her Majesty Queen Victoria by Kenneth MacLeay, Esq., F.S.A. (1872)
• The Dramatic writers of Scotland
  By Ralston Inglis (1868) (pdf)
• The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames
  With a Vocabulary of Christian Names by Clifford Stanley Sims (1862) (pdf)