Greatest Ever Scot

[auld argonian]

Sir James Dewar...inventor of the vacuum flask (or thermos bottle, as it's come to be known.

...and I'll custom-rewrite the old joke so that it fits...

A panel of some of the world's most distinguished scientists are asked to name the one great invention that exhibits the ingenuity of man.

They meet and spend hours tossing around ideas...could it be the computer? The laser? The internal combustion engine? No two of them can agree and the discussion goes on long into the night.

Not knowing that the meeting is still going on the old janitor comes into the room to perform his usual nightly duties. One of the scientists seizes on this opportunity, "Gentlemen, perhaps we have been overthinking the whole thing! Here is a common working man...I suggest that we ask him what the greatest invention in the world is...perhaps his simple mind can find the solution that eludes us."

The janitor isn't quite pleased to be referred to as "simple" but promises to do his best. After some thought, he says, "I guess that the world's greatest invention has got to be the thermos bottle."

The scientists can't believe this answer and the lead panel member asks why the janitor thinks that the thermos bottle is the greatest invention in the world.

"Well," he says, "in the Winter, when it's cold, my wife fills it with hot soup and it keeps the soup hot. And in the summer, when it's hot out, my wife fills it with ice cold lemonade and it keeps that cold."

"So how" asks the scientist, "does that make it the greatest invention in the world?"

The janitor narrows his eyes and whispers conspiratorially, "...how does it know?"

It's an old joke...but Sir James Dewar, a Scot, figgered out how to make it work.


Best

AA

[MacConnachie]

I am a great fan of Burns, also of Wallace and others named on this thread.

However, from the standpoint of a Scot whose discoveries have made a significant difference in the world, my choice, as a biologist, is Sir Alexander Fleming.

Here's a wee bit on the esteemed gent, for those who may not know of him:

In 1999, Time Magazine named Fleming one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century for his discovery of penicillin, and stated; "It was a discovery that would change the course of history. The active ingredient in that mold, which Fleming named penicillin, turned out to be an infection-fighting agent of enormous potency. When it was finally recognized for what it was—the most efficacious life-saving drug in the world—penicillin would alter forever the treatment of bacterial infections. By the middle of the century, Fleming's discovery had spawned a huge pharmaceutical industry, churning out synthetic penicillins that would conquer some of mankind's most ancient scourges, including syphilis, gangrene and tuberculosis".

So, when asked the question, my mind responds "Fleming," my heart "Wallace," and my soul "Burns."

[McClef]

An excellent idea! It puts me in mind of the kind of annual polls that some magazines have. I'm sure the response would be enthusiastic and varied. How would we go about this?

We call for nominations - (the nominator must be prepared to defend their candidate) and when nominations are in we have eliminating voting rounds to find the top 10 then their cases are presented and a final vote tally determines the winner.

[Graham A. Robieson]

Greetings,

The Greatest Scot that comes to my mind is the "Working Man" labourers who keep this country going through hardships and struggles, also are the ones in times of danger, who will stand up together and defend all that is important to family, friends and the community at home, Robert Burns wrote a poem "A Man's A Man For A' That" and so Burns was Great at noticing what most others often miss...the common chap or the uncommon chap, who gets on the best he can with what he has. The Greatest Scot is the humble Scot, who isn't afraid to get stuck into whatever needs doing and doesn't look down on anyone.

All the best,


Graham

[Captain_Cogle]

Im torn between Field Marshall James Francis Edward Keith and Dr. Archibald Cameron.

But perhaps I am biased.

[jhockin]

Greetings,

The Greatest Scot that comes to my mind is the "Working Man" labourers who keep this country going through hardships and struggles, also are the ones in times of danger, who will stand up together and defend all that is important to family, friends and the community at home, Robert Burns wrote a poem "A Man's A Man For A' That" and so Burns was Great at noticing what most others often miss...the common chap or the uncommon chap, who gets on the best he can with what he has. The Greatest Scot is the humble Scot, who isn't afraid to get stuck into whatever needs doing and doesn't look down on anyone.

All the best,


Graham

couldn't agree more! it's the common man ( the 'humblie') that is so readily & commonly, forgotten, but without whom the "greats"/"nobles" wouldn't be able to function, and all the things that are taken for granted simply wouldn't happen. It is also the 'common man' who usually "pays the piper", for the "greats" mistakes, etc. Perhaps this is why, when the CBC held "The greatest Canadian" contest, it was Tommy Douglas ( another common man, of scottish descent) who won,"hands down"

[Mike_Oettle]

Just a historian’s caution here: if you are thinking of the nobles of Scotland the way they were portrayed in Braveheart, you have a sadly skewed image. Gibson got that aspect at least as badly wrong as he did his philabegs, for all that he had some wonderful tartan woven.
Regards,
Mike

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

*****

[Slowburn]

In a lesser of innovation the man who put tea in a single serve pouch tentley! Story Sorry an association error it was Lipton I was meaning to report on.

[Jock Scot]

In a lesser of innovation the man who put tea in a single serve pouch tentley!

Mr TETLEY was a Scot? Oh dear, how to ruin a cup of tea in one easy go with those damn teabags!