Eminent Scots
In the 'Edinburgh directory' for 1822-1823 you can find an entry for Sir Walter Scott — the city's most famous resident at the time — living in 39 Castle Street.
Scott's fame at the time was enormous, even to the point where — as shown elsewhere in the same directory — mail coaches were named in his honour. The Walter Scott 'new light post-coach' left Edinburgh for Carlisle, Manchester and Liverpool daily at 7am.
Searching the Scottish Post Office directories, you can also trace other eminent Scots such as:
- Adam Ferguson, 'Prof of moral philosophy, Thistle Court', in Edinburgh, 1775, and 'Prof of natural philosophy, Argyle's Square', in Edinburgh, 1784
- Adam Smith 'Esq; commissioner of the custom, Panmure's close, Canongate', in Edinburgh, 1784
- Nathaniel Gow, 'musician, No 16 Prince's street' and 'Gow and Shepherd music sellers, No 41 n Bridge', in Edinburgh, 1800
- Henry Raeburn, 'portrait-painter, 24 York Place', in Edinburgh, 1822
- Henry Cockburn, Lord Cockburn 'solicitor-general for Scotland, 14 Charlotte street', in Edinburgh, 1831
- James Young Simpson 'FRCP, professor of midwifery, 22 Albany street', in Edinburgh, 1840
- Robert Stevenson 'civil engineer, 1 Baxter's pl', in Edinburgh, 1849
- David and Thomas Stevenson 'civil engineers, 84 George Street', in Edinburgh, 1885
- Phoebe Anne Traquair through her husband 'Traquair, Ramsay H, MD, 8 Dean park cres', in Edinburgh, 1892
- Charles Rennie Mackintosh 'FRIBA, IA, architect, 257 W George st; ho. 6 Florentine ter, Hillhead', in Glasgow, 1911.
