Greatest Ever Scot

[Steve Barclay]

If we're talking the amount of good done by the person for mankind, we must not forget that Cambuslang's own Midge Ure had a rather large part in the genesis and organisation of Band Aid/Live Aid.

[davidlpope]

How about an unranked top five or top ten list? Surely that would be easier than coming up with a single individual.

David

[Bugbear]

I just happen to be considering getting a book, Andrew Carnegie, by David Nasaw, so Carnegie came to mind. It depends what mood you're in.
However, I no longer believe that people become "great" on their own; same goes for "infamous." That's why I asked for people's favorite personality from the Scottish Enlightenment, in the thread referenced, rather than the "greatest Scot."

[Steve Barclay]

Doctor David Livingstone? Did much for the abolition of slavery, amongst many other things.

[Brian K]

My first instinct was Robert Burns also - what other Scot has their birthday celebrated around the globe every year?

I understand, but does that make him the greatest or merely the most famous? While Burns is second to none in terms of creating and celebrating Scottish identity, I would suggest that Smith and Bell, for example, have had much more influence and impact worldwide.

[Alan H]

Out here in California, John Muir casts a pretty long shadow. Without John Muir, there probably would be no United States National Park System, though it must be said that Gifford Pinchot was also very important in making that come about, and the two men had very different ideas about what the National Parks and Wildernesses should be about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir

[Jimmy]

How about an unranked top five or top ten list? Surely that would be easier than coming up with a single individual.

David

your suggestion may be very valid, a top ten would give a great variety of great Scots from all fields

[BEEDEE]

"Greatest" without some form of qualifier is, IMO, impossible to identify. Greatest poet, greatest king, greatest warrior, greatest statesman, greatest athlete, greatest piper,etc, might make it possible to come up with some short lists.

Brian

[Bugbear]

Don't forget scientests like James Clerk Maxwell. I'm still not giving into "greatest-ism," though...

[Ryan Ross]

Another vote for Adam Smith. The Invisible Hand forever!