1797 in Scotland

Events from the year 1797 in Scotland.

Incumbents

Law officers

• Lord Advocate – Robert Dundas of Arniston
• Solicitor General for Scotland – Robert Blair

Judiciary

• Lord President of the Court of Session – Lord Succoth
• Lord Justice General – The Duke of Montrose
• Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Braxfield

Events

• 19 July – Act to Raise and Embody a Militia Force in Scotland.
• 29 August – Massacre of Tranent: British troops attack protestors against enforced recruitment into the militia at Tranent in East Lothian, killing 12.
• 11 October (12 October naval reckoning) – Battle of Camperdown: Royal Navy led by Dundee-born Admiral Duncan defeats the fleet of the Batavian Republic off the coast of Holland.
• Cloch lighthouse completed.
• Johnston Press established as printers in Falkirk.
• Johnstons of Elgin established as a textile mill in Elgin, Moray.
• Keiller's marmalade first produced in Dundee.
• Publication of Encyclopædia Britannica Third Edition is completed in Edinburgh.

Births

• 29 April – George Don, botanist (died 1856)
• 10 October – Thomas Drummond, military surveyor and Under-Secretary for Ireland (died 1840 in Ireland)
• 14 November – Charles Lyell, geologist (died 1875 in England)
• 3 December – Andrew Smith, military surgeon, explorer, ethnologist and zoologist (died 1872 in England)

Deaths

• 26 March – James Hutton, geologist (born 1726)
• 30 December – David Martin, portrait painter and engraver (born 1737)

The arts

• 24 December – Walter Scott marries Charlotte Carpenter at St Mary's Church, Carlisle, and the couple immediately move into their new home at 50 George Street, Edinburgh.

References