How many famous Scottish inventors was there?
James Watt (1736-1819)
Perfected Steam Engine
The Greenock-born genius changed our world from an agricultural
society to an industrial one. He transformed steam engines into the
power of the Industrial Revolution. The electrical unit is named
after him.
William Murdoch (1754-1839)
Invented gas lighting
Born in Lugar, Ayrshire, he is famous as the Scot who lit the
world. His Cornwall home was the first to be lit by gas and by 1803
gas was used around Britain. Invented steam tricycle, steam cannon
and waterproof paint.
Charles MacIntosh (1766-1843)
Invented Raincoat
Glasgow-born chemist developed technique of sandwiching a layer
of rubber between two layers of cloth, making it waterproof. It was
first used for an 1824 Arctic expedition. His name lives on today
when we refer to wearing a mackintosh or a mac.
James Young Simpson (1811-1870)
Discovered chloroform
The baker's son from Bathgate pioneered anaesthetics. As
Professor of Midwifery at Edinburgh University, he was the first to
use anaesthetic for childbirth. He won acclaim after using
chloroform on Queen Victoria.
James Young (1811-1883)
Discovered Paraffin Oil
Glasgow-born father of oil industry. Invented way of extracting
paraffin from oil-rich shale and coal and established world's first
oil-works in Bathgate. Made his fortune selling paraffin oil, wax
and even fertilisers.
Kirkpatrick MacMillan (1812-1878)
Invented Bicycle
Born near Dumfries, he developed first rear-wheel-drive bicycle
in 1842. Villagers thought him mad for dreaming up the first
velocipede, as it was then called. Known locally as 'Daft Pate',
his invention is still used by billions.
Lord Kelvin (1824-1907)
The Father of Thermodynamics
Went to Glasgow University when just 10. Developed the science
of thermodynamics and formulated the Kelvin scale of absolute
temperature, Supervised laying of the first transatlantic telegraph
cable and improved ship's compass.
John Boyd Dunlop (1840-1921)
Invented Modern Tyre
Born in Dreghorn, Ayrshire, he qualified as a vet at nineteen.
Fed up with travelling on bumpy roads, he experimented with his
son's tricycle and came up with the idea of an inflated rubber
tube. Established what became Dunlop Rubber Company.
Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922)
Invented Telephone
The Edinburgh teacher of deaf children experimented with
electronic devices to help them communicate. His invention was
patented in 1876. His many inventions include the biplane, which
made it's first public flight in the USA in 1908.
Sir Alexander Fleming (1881-1955)
Discovered penicillin
Born near Darvel, Ayrshire, he studied medicine in London.
Developed the use of anti-typhoid vaccines and in 1928 discovered
penicillin, revolutionising world medicine. He won the Nobel Prize
in 1945.
John Logie Baird (1888-1946)
Invented Television
Born in Helensburgh, he produced the first TV picture in October
1925. Sent the first images across the Atlantic in 1928. Started
first TV station with broadcasts for BBC. Also involved in
fibre-optics, radio direction finding and infra-red night
viewing.
George Bennie (1892-1957)
Discovered Monorail
The Glasgow man died, in obscurity, after inventing rail-plane,
a high-level monorail system. The prototype, at Milngavie, was sold
for scrap in 1956. Today, Las Vegas, Tokyo, Moscow and Seattle all
have monorails.
Sir Robert Watson-Watt (1893-1973)
Developed Radar
Born in Brechin, he began work as a meteorologist in 1915, using
radio to detect thunderstorms for aircraft. He then drafted a
report on detecting aircraft using radio methods. A chain of radar
on the English coast helped the RAF win the Battle of Britain.
Sir James Black (1924 - )
Invented Beta-blockers
Born in Uddingston, Glasgow, he developed drugs that saved
millions of lives. Beta-blockers such as Propranolol and Tenormin
revolutionised heart treatments. Then came ulcer tackling drugs,
like Tagamet. Won the Nobel Prize in 1988. Dundee University
Chancellor.
Dr. Ian Wilmut (1944 - )
Invented Beta-blockers
In 1966 he led a team at Roslin Institute, near Edinburgh, which
created Dolly, the first cloned mammal. It caused a worldwide
sensation. He is now leading stem-cell research into degenerative
diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.