Greatest Ever Scot

[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.

[macwilkin]

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.

Because Burns still speaks to us. He is one of us -- a true "citizen of the world" who still appeals with works regarding universi themes of love and liberty.

He inspired Abraham Lincoln & countless others. We still sing his songs.

T.

[Nick the DSM]

Hard to say.

My first choice would be Burns.

Sean Connery?

[figheadair]

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.

I agree wholeheartedly with your first and last sentence but Burns is second to none in terms of creating and celebrating Scottish identity? I would have to disagree. Far more influential in developing and promoting a pan-Scottish identity was Sir Walter Scott without whom tartan, and thereby clan associations etc would probably not have survived into the last century let alone this one.

Oh, and no-one seems to have remembered Sir Alexander Fleming and penicillin. Then there's Napier - Logerithms; Dunlop - Pnumatic Tyre; RL Stevenson - Kidnapped etc; Tar McAdam - Bitumen etc etc

[McClef]

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.

I agree it's not easy given the number of fields of excellence and impact of various Scots within them.

In 2002, the BBC did a series of programmes upon who was the greatest Briton with 100 people being nominated and championed and then put up for public vote. This was reduced to the top 10 and Sir Winston Churchill was the winner.

The highest placed Scot was Sir Alexander Fleming at #20, William Wallace was at #48, Alexander Graham Bell was #57, Robert the Bruce #74 and Burns and Sir Walter Scott didn't even feature! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_Greatest_Britons

The vast number of nominations were English though! Only 4 were Welsh!

Even reducing the entry to Scots alone I expect it would not be difficult to find 100 and then seeing them reduced to the top 10. But we don't have the resources of the BBC and who would be the champions for the cause of their favourite?

[Lallans]

Being of what the British call a high church background and geared to think that way, I propose a mystical trinity:

Robert the Bruce, Robert Burns, and Walter Scott.

Not wanting to diminish Burns, I have omitted titles; all three have them as conferred both by nature and by Scottish history.

[figheadair]

Even reducing the entry to Scots alone I expect it would not be difficult to find 100 and then seeing them reduced to the top 10. But we don't have the resources of the BBC and who would be the champions for the cause of their favourite?

So true. Even if the question was grouped there would undoubtedly be the need to sub-devide, for example; Best Military Leader. First one has to define best and even then how does one compare Wallace or Bruce against Stirling (LRDG & SAS) or Haig, Lord George Murray or Sir George Murray (Wellington's QMG), John Graham of Claverhouse (Bonnie Dundee)?

There are so many candidates for this and all the potential categories depending on the criteria set.

[Jimmy]

Could it be that humaity owes more to Alexander Fleming than to any other person who ever lived?

[Jimmy]

sorry about the spelling should have been 'humanity'

[Redshank]

Well Jock Scot get's my vote, for his continuous sage advice on how to wear Highland Dress correctly