Scotland's Pages - Scotland's Written History


National Library of Scotland

Historical timeline – 1950-2000

Follow the links to read about a historic event or see an image of an important document.




1800
Food riots in Glasgow.

1802-1803
Sir Walter Scott publishes 'Border Minstrelsy'.

Around the world...
1805 Battle of Trafalgar.

1813
David Livingstone born in Blantyre.

Around the world...
1808 Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

1814
St Walter Scott's 'Waverley'.

1814-1820
Height of Sutherland Clearances.

Around the world...
1815 Battle of Waterloo.

1817
'The Scotsman' first published.


1818
Sir Walter Scott brings Scottish crown jewels to light again.

1820
'Radical War': rising of Scottish radicals at Bonnybridge and Strathaven.

Around the world...
1819 Peterloo: massacre of parliamentary reform supporters in England.
1820 Death of George III.

1821
An early 'socialist' – Robert Owen.

1822
Emigration poster.

1822
George IV's visit to Edinburgh.

1824
The Bell Lighthouse.


1828
Last fatal duel in Scotland at Kirkcaldy: dissatisfied customer kills banker.

1828
Trial of body-snatchers Burke and Hare who killed to provide dissection subjects for Edinburgh's medical students.

1838
Thomas Blake Glover, founder of Mitsubishi and of the Japanese Navy, born in Fraserburgh.

Around the world...
1838 Davy Crockett's last stand at the Alamo.
1837 Accession of Queen Victoria.

1842
Queen Victoria first visits Scotland.

Around the world...
1840 Treaty of Waitangi: Maori Chiefs hand sovereignty of New Zealand to Great Britain.

1843
Disruption of the Church of Scotland: foundation of the Free Church.

Around the world...
1842 Retreat from Kabul: British forces wiped out in Afghanistan.


1843-1863
Hill and Adamson: pioneers of Scottish photography.

1846
Highland potato famine.
Around the world...
1846-1849 Irish potato famine.

1848
Cholera epidemic in Glasgow.

Around the world...
1848-1849 Revolutions in France, Austria, Sicily, Naples, Hungary and Prussia.