Adam [Adams], Jean (1704–1765), poet, was born on 28 April 1704 in Cartsdyke, near Greenock, Renfrewshire, one of five children of John Adam, a mariner, and his wife, Jean Eddie, reportedly a woman of little common sense. Jean Adam's scanty education comprised reading, writing, and sewing, but after her father's death when she was still young she entered domestic service with the minister of ...
Article
Adam [Adams], Jean (1704–1765), poet
Karina Williamson
Article
Allan, Eliza MacNaughton Luke [Dot] (1886–1964), novelist
Moira Burgess
Allan, Eliza MacNaughton Luke [Dot] (1886–1964), novelist, was born on 13 May 1886 at Headswood House, Denny, Stirlingshire, the only child of Alexander Allan, iron merchant, and his wife, Jean, daughter of John Luke, founder of the Vale paper works in Denny. She was educated privately and attended classes at ...
Article
Allan, Mary Miller (1869–1947), college head
Elizabeth Edwards
Allan, Mary Miller (1869–1947), college head, was born at 12 Commerce Street, Glasgow, on 12 August 1869, the youngest of the six children of William Allan, a grain mill manager, and his wife, Margaret. Educated at Garnethill public school, Glasgow, and Dundas Vale Training College, Glasgow...
Article
Anderson, Janet (1697–1761), milliner and maker of graveclothes
Elizabeth C. Sanderson
Anderson, Janet (1697–1761), milliner and maker of graveclothes, was born on 1 January 1697 and baptized in Edinburgh two days later. She was the daughter of James Anderson (1662–1728), clerk to the signet and author of Diplomata Scotiae, and Jean Ellis or Ellies (...
Article
Anderson, Katharine Edith McCall (1866–1924), civilian and military nurse
Keiron Spires
Anderson, Katharine Edith McCall (1866–1924), civilian and military nurse, was born at 1 Woodside Crescent, Anderston, Glasgow, on 5 January 1866, the eldest daughter among the eight children of Sir Thomas McCall Anderson (1836–1908), who became a professor of the practice of medicine at the ...
Article
Archer, Georgina (1827–1882), promoter of women's education
Roderick R. McLean
Archer, Georgina (1827–1882), promoter of women's education, was born on 27 September 1827 in Edinburgh, the youngest of the four children of Andrew Archer, dentist, and his wife, Ann, née Cunningham. The family consisted of two sons and two daughters. The eldest, James Archer (1822–1904)...
Article
Armour, Jean (1765–1834), wife of Robert Burns and subject of poetry
Valentina Bold
Armour, Jean (1765–1834), wife of Robert Burns and subject of poetry, was born in Mauchline, Ayrshire, on 25 February 1765, the second of the eleven children of James Armour and his wife, Mary Smith. The family lived in Mauchline's Cowgate. James Armour was a master mason whose work included ...
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Armour, Jean (1765–1834)
Maker: J. A. Gilfillan
In
Jean Armour (1765–1834) by J. A. Gilfillan, 1822 Scottish National Portrait Gallery
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Baillie, Lady Grisell (1665–1746), heroine and business woman
Barbara C. Murison
Baillie, Lady Grisell (1665–1746), heroine and business woman, was born on 25 December 1665 at Redbraes Castle, Berwickshire, the eldest survivor of the eighteen children of Sir Patrick Hume (or Home) of Polwarth, later first earl of Marchmont (1641–1724), and Grisell Kerr (...
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Baillie, Lady Grisell (1822–1891)
Maker: David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson
In
Lady Grisell Baillie (1822–1891) by David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson, 1843–8 © National Portrait Gallery, London
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Baillie, Lady Grisell (1822–1891), Church of Scotland deaconess
Valerie Bonham
Baillie, Lady Grisell (1822–1891), Church of Scotland deaconess, was born on 4 April 1822 at Mellerstain, near Kelso, the youngest of the eleven children of George Baillie (1763–1841) of Jerviswoode, MP for Berwickshire, and his wife, Mary, the youngest daughter of Sir James Pringle, bt...
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Baillie, Lady Grisell (1665–1746)
Maker: J. Medina
In
Lady Grisell Baillie (1665–1746), by J. Medina, 1709
© Mellerstain Trust
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Balfour [née Campbell], Lady Frances (1858–1931), suffragist leader and churchwoman
Joan B. Huffman
Balfour [née Campbell], Lady Frances (1858–1931), suffragist leader and churchwoman, was born at Argyll Lodge, Kensington, London, on 22 February 1858, the fifth daughter and tenth of twelve children of George Douglas Campbell, eighth duke of Argyll (1823–1900), and his first wife, ...
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Balfour, Lady Frances (1858–1931)
Maker: Bassano
In
Lady Frances Balfour (1858–1931) by Bassano, 1919 © National Portrait Gallery, London
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Baring [née Stewart-Mackenzie], Louisa Caroline, Lady Ashburton (1827–1903), art collector and philanthropist
Virginia Surtees
Baring [née Stewart-Mackenzie], Louisa Caroline, Lady Ashburton (1827–1903), art collector and philanthropist, was born at Seaforth Lodge, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, on 5 March 1827, the third daughter and sixth child of James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie (d. 1843)...
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Baring, Louisa Caroline, Lady Ashburton (1827–1903)
Maker: Carlo, Baron Marochetti
In
Louisa Caroline Baring, Lady Ashburton (1827–1903) by Carlo, Baron Marochetti, 1861 property of the Marquess of Northampton; Beedle & Cooper
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Benzie, Isa Donald (1902–1988), radio broadcaster
Paul Donovan
Benzie, Isa Donald (1902–1988), radio broadcaster, was born on 4 December 1902 at 157 Nithsdale Road, Glasgow, the daughter of Robert Marr Benzie, a chartered accountant, and his wife, Annie Young Lamberton. She attended the city's Laurel Bank School. In 1922 she went up to ...
Article
Blackwell [née Simpson], Elizabeth (1699–1758), botanical author and artist
Doreen A. Evenden
Blackwell [née Simpson], Elizabeth (1699–1758), botanical author and artist, was born in a house in Poultry, in the parish of St Mary Woolnoth in the City of London, on 23 April 1699, the daughter of Leonard Simpson, a painter, and his wife, ...
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Blyth, Phoebe (1816–1898), educationist and philanthropist
Helen Corr
Blyth, Phoebe (1816–1898), educationist and philanthropist, was born at Gray Street, Newington, in Edinburgh, on 5 April 1816, the daughter of Robert Brittain Blyth, a metal merchant, and his wife, Barbara Cooper. Phoebe had a brother, the Revd Robert Blyth, who was an ardent supporter of Scottish sabbath schools. The family were active members of the ...
