This work seeks to identify the forms and origins of Ancient Egyptian architecture and the complex historical progress which brought these to Scotland, identifying the affinities shared by both countries and their evolving role from their first arrival to the present day. The thesis follows Egypt’s first appearance in Scottish legend and its later influence, at the close of the 16th century, in the practices of organised Freemasonry, to be followed, from the second quarter of the 17th century, by numerous obelisk sundials and with the construction of the first pyramid towards its close. In the 18th century, single obelisk monuments with Masonic implications appeared, and the outstanding significance of the Scottish Enlightenment and its fascination with Antiquity are noted. That this coincided with the Grand Tour encouraged Scottish aristocrats, architects, and artists to observe, to study and to be inspired by Egyptian forms, principally in Rome, which then appeared in Scottish country house and garden. The first recorded visit of a Scot to Egypt, in 1768, led to the delayed publication of an account in 1793 and the century closed with the outbreak of the British military campaign in Egypt against Napoleon’s invading forces. The participation of Scots troops led to a new familiarity with the land and, albeit from France, there were produced the first accurate details of the country’s monuments and an ensuing enthusiasm for an ‘Egyptian Revival’. This thesis goes on to record the 19th century absorption with mourning, when the use of Egyptian symbols, aided by industrial methods of production, grew to a peak, allied to new archaeological discoveries by visiting Scots and the growth of accurate publications. These two latter, increased by the growing number of Scots who visited the country, influenced the use of Egyptian themes in a wide range of buildings, religious, domestic and industrial. The 20th century rejection of both religion and commemoration, except in acknowledgement of the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars, led to the decline of Egyptian mourning themes and new building techniques left little place for Egyptian references which were mainly reduced to mere surface ornament. This thesis concludes with an important 21st century military example which contains within it, a unique range of Egyptian symbols of commemoration.

No description available.

The involvement of the Churches in public education was radically altered by the Education (Scotland) Act 1872. This Act placed education firmly in the hands of elected school boards rather than churches and led to the handing over of many church schools. Only those of the Roman Catholic and Episcopal Church continued for a time outside the state system. This thesis argues that in Aberdeen the Churches were successful in introducing and in keeping the Bible and a general religious education along Presbyterian lines in the state schools, even although this very success led to a diminution in direct church influence over state education and a shift to more secular control. To secure the position of religious education, the Churches in Aberdeen, in particular the Church of Scotland, acted as quasi-political parties and ran candidates in the school board elections. This led to head-on clashes with the "secularists" who wanted no religion in the schools at all and with the newly-emerging forces of "labour", in particular the Aberdeen United Trades Council, which wanted workingmen on the Board, free education, and freedom from clerical control. By the 1890s the position of religious education had been secured beyond challenge and the involvement of "Church" candidates ceased. Nevertheless, individual ministers and members continued to play a high-profile role in educational policy through ongoing membership of the Board.

No description available.

Following a large kill of Black Guillemots in the Esso Bernicia oil spill in Shetland, this study was initiated to determine the population size and distribution of the species at different times of year and to investigate its ecology. The results will enable oil spill contingency plans to be made for this species and provide a base-line against which future work can be compared. This is the first major study of Black Guillemots in the UK. There were large diurnal and seasonal fluctuations in colony attendance patterns which were investigated in relation to various factors. Reliable census techniques were devised and suitable stretches of coastline were established as monitoring units. Black Guillemots rarely foraged in water more than 40-50 m deep, and seldom moved more than 3 km from the nest during the breeding season. The proximity of suitable breeding sites to shallow water feeding grounds accounted for the fairly regular breeding dispersion. On islands with mammalian predators only nest sites in inaccessible cliffs were used. In many areas breeding numbers were limited by nest site availability. The distribution at other times of year was more irregular. After breeding adults congregated in traditional moulting areas where they became flightless for 4-5 weeks. These flocks of up to c.600 adults constitute vulnerable "hot spots" at which the effect of oil pollution would be most severe. In winter there was some movement away from exposed coasts, resulting in concentrations in more sheltered, inshore waters. A wide range of fish and invertebrates were eaten by adults, largely reflecting the diversity of inshore benthic communities. There appears to be a greater dependence on invertebrates during the winter months, when fish are scarcer. Chicks were fed almost exclusively on fish: their diet composition was determined primarily by local availability, although some adults specialised on particular species. When large gadoid fish became available in late summer adults were able to provide more energy per feed and consequently chicks were heavier at fledging. Breeding parameters were quantified and analysed in relation to various factors. Breeding success and chick growth compared very favourably with results of studies elsewhere, indicating that conditions for breeding were good for Black Guillemots in Shetland. In a year of more favourable environmental conditions a greater proportion of inexperienced birds were able to reach the condition threshold for breeding. These birds tended to lay single-egg clutches, in sub-optimal sites at which egg predation was heavy and breeding success low. Some pairs of Arctic Skuas benefit ed considerably from kleptoparasitism of chick feeds at larger colonies, but Black Guillemot breeding success was not affected and chick growth was only depressed at high rates of piracy. Overall, conditions in Shetland are favourable throughout the year for this seabird, whose ecology is moulded to the exploitation of an inshore feeding niche.

The thesis is concerned with assessing the scale and importance of the interaction between Scotland and the West Indies in the later part of the eighteenth century. In analysing the symbiotic relationship between a metropolitan region and a colonial sphere, this study seeks to further the on-going reappraisal of British imperial activity. Within the West Indies, the thesis focuses particularly on Jamaica and on the Windward Islands, which were ceded to Britain in 1763. For Scots, the new opportunities in the Windwards were especially attractive. In this period, Scots formed a significant, and disproportionately large, part of the white population and tended to conduct their affairs in networks based on ties of kinship or local association. These were essentially transatlantic, and were often based on pre-existing networks which were extended from Scotland to include Great Britain and its Atlantic empire. In addition to facilitating all aspects of the Scottish-West Indian interaction, the networks helped to forge new, concentric identities within a imperial framework. The thesis considers this transoceanic interaction by examining a number of key themes. The two opening chapters discuss the Scottish and Caribbean contexts in which the thematic chapters. The first of these is concerned with the structure of Scottish affairs on the plantations, and the next examines the role of Scots in medical practice. Two further chapters assess the political implications of the Scottish presence, one in a West Indian context, the other from a British imperial perspective. Chapter seven reviews Scottish mercantile activity. The final chapter looks at the nature and direction of the repatriation of people and capital from the Caribbean to Scotland.

This main aim of this thesis is to conclusively demonstrate that John Spottiswoode was one of the most important churchman in early modern Scotland. He was, it will be shown, the most authoritative and impressive of Scotland's post-Refonriation bishops. Spottiswoode was the principal ecclesiastic in James VI's reconstruction of an episcopal church in Scotland after 1603 when he was appointed Archbisiop of Glasgow. This was followed by his prestigious translation to the metropolitan see of St Andrews in 1615 from where he presided over those controversial liturgical reforms of the succeeding years of the Jacobean era. Moreover, as a prominent member of the Scottish government he was heavily involved in secular politics and administration throughout the absentee kingship of James VI and that of his son, Charles I. This study, however, will confine itself to charting the archbishop's ecclesiastical and political ascendancy and involvement within the Scottish Jacobean church and state. Although Spottiswoode was without question a loyal supporter of the crown, it will be shown that he was no sycophant. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an analysis of the qualities and characteristics that made Spottiswoode such an influential figure and beneficiary of royal largesse between 1603 and 1625. Through focusing on the activities and objectives of Archbishop Spottiswoode throughout the reign of James VI, this thesis also aims to challenge the popular notion that the Church of Scotland functioned efficiently and harmoniously throughout the reign of"rex pacificus". Furthermore, the idea that an absolutist state existed in Scotland after the regal union will be exposed as fanciful.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Glasgow, 2007. / Ph.D. thesis submitted to the Department of Scottish Literature, University of Glasgow, 2007. Includes bibliographical references. Print version also available.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Glasgow, 1996. / Ph.D. thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts, Department of Scottish History, University of Glasgow, 1996. Includes bibliographical references. Print version also available.