Historical figures in Edinburgh
The atlas holds 34 people and 68 moments here, from 1706 to 2012. The most recorded lives are David Hume, Adam Smith and Arthur Conan Doyle. Among them Writers, Scientists and Political Leaders, across the Space Age and the Industrial Revolution.
Notable people
Adam Smith
from 1723 to 1790
8 moments here
Scottish moral philosopher and political economist of the Scottish Enlightenment, author of The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the…
Agatha Christie
in 1930
1 moment here
English novelist, playwright, and memoirist, internationally known for detective fiction featuring Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.…
Alexander Graham Bell
from 1847 to 1906
3 moments here
Scottish-born Canadian-American inventor, scientist, teacher of the deaf, and engineer best known for patenting the first practical telephone.…
Amy Winehouse
in 2008
1 moment here
British singer and songwriter Amy Jade Winehouse was born in London and became internationally known for the albums Frank and Back to Black.…
Arthur Conan Doyle
from 1859 to 1876
4 moments here
Scottish-born British physician and writer best known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh,…
Benjamin Franklin
from 1759 to 1771
2 moments here
American printer, scientist, civic leader, colonial agent, revolutionary statesman, and diplomat.…
Bingu wa Mutharika
in 2005
1 moment here
Malawian economist and politician who served as Malawi's third president from 2004 until his death in office in 2012.…
Charles Darwin
in 1825
1 moment here
English naturalist, geologist, and biologist whose observations during the global voyage of HMS Beagle and subsequent research led to his theory of…
Daniel Defoe
from 1706 to 1708
2 moments here
English merchant, political writer, journalist, intelligence agent, and novelist. This chronology records documented physical presences from his…
David Hume
from 1711 to 1776
11 moments here
Scottish philosopher, historian, economist and essayist. Hume’s documented movements include formative stays in Bristol and France; residences at…
Douglas Adams
in 1976
1 moment here
English author, screenwriter and humourist best known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.…
Edmund Barton
in 1902
1 moment here
Australian barrister, federation leader, first prime minister of Australia (1901–1903), and founding justice of the High Court of Australia.…
Elizabeth II
in 1999
1 moment here
Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death.…
Frédéric Chopin
in 1848
3 moments here
Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the early Romantic period. Born in Żelazowa Wola, he grew up and trained in Warsaw, travelled through Central…
Hans Christian Andersen
in 1847
1 moment here
Danish writer renowned for literary fairy tales including “The Little Mermaid,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “The Snow Queen,” and “The Ugly…
Harriet Beecher Stowe
in 1853
1 moment here
American author and abolitionist best known for Uncle Tom's Cabin. Her documented life included formative years in Connecticut, a long residence in…
Hastings Banda
in 1941
1 moment here
Hastings Kamuzu Banda was a Malawian physician and politician who led Nyasaland to independence and served as Malawi's prime minister and first…
Helen Keller
from 1930 to 1933
3 moments here
Helen Adams Keller was an American deafblind author, lecturer, disability-rights advocate, and political activist.…
Hirohito
in 1921
1 moment here
Hirohito (posthumously Emperor Shōwa) was Emperor of Japan from 25 December 1926 until his death in 1989.…
Igor Tamm
in 1913
1 moment here
Soviet theoretical physicist and 1958 Nobel laureate in Physics, noted for work on Cherenkov radiation, nuclear physics, and controlled thermonuclear…
James Clerk Maxwell
from 1831 to 1855
4 moments here
Scottish physicist and mathematician whose career moved among Edinburgh, Galloway, Cambridge, Aberdeen, and London.…
John Eccles
in 1978
1 moment here
Australian neurophysiologist and philosopher John Carew Eccles (1903–1997) was a Nobel laureate noted for research on synaptic transmission.…
John James Audubon
in 1826
1 moment here
French-American artist, naturalist, explorer, and ornithologist best known for The Birds of America.…
Jules Verne
in 1879
1 moment here
French novelist, playwright, and poet whose documented life included residences and work in Nantes, Paris, Amiens, Auteuil, and Le Crotoy, together…
Moments
- 1706 Secret mission to Edinburgh Daniel Defoe
- 1708 Government correspondence from Edinburgh Daniel Defoe
- 1711 Birth at Lawnmarket David Hume
- 1723 Baptism at Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Adam Smith
- 1729 Burgh School education Adam Smith
- 1742 Publication of Essays in Edinburgh David Hume
- 1746 Return and convalescence in Kirkcaldy Adam Smith
- 1748 Public lectures in Edinburgh Adam Smith
- 1751 Residence at Riddles Court David Hume
- 1753 Move to Jack’s Land David Hume
- 1759 Visit to Edinburgh Benjamin Franklin
- 1762 Move to James Court David Hume
- 1766 Return to Kirkcaldy to write Adam Smith
- 1766 Letter from Edinburgh David Hume
- 1769 Return to Edinburgh David Hume
- 1771 Stay in Edinburgh Benjamin Franklin
- 1771 Letter from St Andrew Square David Hume
- 1776 Kirkcaldy after publication Adam Smith
- 1776 Return from Bath to Edinburgh David Hume
- 1776 Death at St Andrew Square David Hume
- 1776 Final letter from Edinburgh David Hume
- 1778 Move to Panmure House as Customs Commissioner Adam Smith
- 1790 Death at Panmure House Adam Smith
- 1825 Begins medical studies in Edinburgh Charles Darwin
- 1826 Arrival in Edinburgh John James Audubon
- 1831 Birth at India Street James Clerk Maxwell
- 1841 Edinburgh Academy enrolment James Clerk Maxwell
- 1842 Arrival at Granton on first Scottish visit Queen Victoria
- 1847 University of Edinburgh studies James Clerk Maxwell
- 1847 Birth in Edinburgh Alexander Graham Bell
- 1847 Stays at Trinity near Edinburgh Hans Christian Andersen
- 1848 Stay at Calder House Frédéric Chopin
- 1848 Edinburgh concert at Hopetoun Rooms Frédéric Chopin
- 1848 Final will at Warriston Crescent Frédéric Chopin
- 1853 Edinburgh antislavery meetings Harriet Beecher Stowe
- 1855 Colour lecture to the Royal Society of Edinburgh James Clerk Maxwell
- 1859 Birth at Picardy Place Arthur Conan Doyle
- 1864 Lodging at Liberton Bank House Arthur Conan Doyle
- 1866 University studies in Edinburgh Alexander Graham Bell
- 1867 Family home at Sciennes Place Arthur Conan Doyle
- 1876 Medical student in Edinburgh Arthur Conan Doyle
- 1877 Arrival at Edinburgh Ulysses S. Grant
- 1879 Voyage to Edinburgh Jules Verne
- 1902 Freedom of the City of Edinburgh Edmund Barton
- 1906 Honorary degree at the University of Edinburgh Alexander Graham Bell
- 1910 Edinburgh World Missionary Conference Yun Ch'iho
- 1913 Studies at the University of Edinburgh Igor Tamm
- 1921 Visit to Edinburgh University Zhou Enlai
- 1921 Visit to Edinburgh Hirohito
- 1930 First overseas tour: Scotland Helen Keller