Greatest Ever Scot

**Whidbey78** · 7th June 10, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Brian K

Alexander Graham Bell came to mind immediately.

Andrew Carnegie popped into my mind right off. He revolutionized industry, especially in North America. However, I don't think his influence had as much direct impact on his homeland as it did here, but I could be mistaken.

Of course, being from this side of the pond I have not been emersed in Scottish history enough to cast a truly informed vote.

For just being all around "cool" my vote would go to Sean Connery, but he is certainly not the "greatest ever." But he is the only real James Bond.

It's a tough call to say "Greatest Ever." Perhaps the subject needs to be narrowed slightly by major area of work or influence(political, military, science/engineering, business, etc.) or by time frame(century, decade, era). Of course if one went with the latter wouldn't it be contrary to the title? "Best Scot Ever...um,...in the 19th century." It just doesn't fly.

**Woot22** · 7th June 10, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Whidbey78

Andrew Carnegie popped into my mind right off. He revolutionized industry, especially in North America.

I think James Watt deserves a lot of the credit for revolutionizing modern industry perhaps even more so than Carnegie. Andrew Carnegie was an amazing man though.

**ThistleDown** · 24th June 10, 01:16 AM

"...who was the greatest ever Scot."

David Hume
Adam Smith
Robert Burns
James VI
Compton Mackenzie
Hugh MacDiarmid

in no particular order.

**macwilkin** · 24th June 10, 04:02 AM

Seamus Mor/Hamish Henderson.

**Mike_Oettle** · 24th June 10, 02:14 PM

Well, you have all contributed to a significant list of great Scots, and I would not venture to name “the greatest”.
But I would offer a few more names: John Logie Baird, who invented television, and who lived in South Africa for a while.
Andrew Geddes Bain and his son Thomas, the greatest road builders that 19th-century South Africa was privileged to see.
Charles Mackenzie, Bishop of Central Africa and martyr.
And I would go along with the nomination of David Livingstone. There is a hospital named after him in Port Elizabeth. He stayed at the London Missionary Society’s Bethelsdorp mission station (now part of Port Elizabeth) while getting his wagons ready for the trek to Kuruman.
I would also question the prominence given to Alexander Graham Bell. There are claims that he pinched someone else’s ideas to make the telephone.
Regards,
Mike

**piperdbh** · 24th June 10, 02:27 PM

Sir Simon Lockhart, who carried the key to the casket containing Bruce's heart on its way to Jerusalem, and who went on to become one of my ancestors.

Which one is the greater accomplishment, do you think?