Scottish-Americans

The following is taken from the book "Famous Firsts of Scottish-Americans". It presents the profiles of prominent, pioneering Scots who significantly contributed to the heritage and prosperity of the United States of America.

Famous Firsts of Scottish-Americans
By June Skinner Sawyers

Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1847. Alexander’s father had already invented a system of teaching communication skills to the deaf and he became a full partner in his father’s business. After his family immigrated to Canada, his father sent him to Boston to train teachers in the method of communicating with the deaf. He went on to become a professor of speech at Boston University. During 1873 to 1876, Alexander began experimenting with various machines whose purpose was to help people communicate better. On March 10, 1876, Bell spoke those famous words "Mr. Watson, come here, I want you."
In the 1880’s he bought a large mansion in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". He called his family home Beinn Breagh (prononunced Bine Vree’ah), which is Gaelic for "beautiful hill".

David Dunbar Buick was the founder of the Buick Motor Company which was the first really successful automobile manufacturer in the world. Buick was born in the town of Arbroath, Scotland in 1854. The original family name was spelled Buik.
In 1906, a Buick was the only car to finish the 1,000 mile race from Chicago to New York. Hood ornaments appeared in 1927, and the Brick crest was added in 1937 using the ancient Scottish coat of arms of the Buick family. It featured the figure of a deer’s head and a shield. In 1939 Buick became the first car to have turn signals. David Dunbar Buick died in 1929. He was seventy-four. By the time of his death, David had lost most of his money. Some say he made as much as $100 million in his day, yet he died a poor man. He was so poor that he could not even afford to buy the car that bore his name.

David Byrne-As founder and artistic creator behind the successful rock ban the Talking Heads, David Byrne created a new way of presenting rock music to the public. Born in Dumbarton, Scotland in 1952, David was brought to the US as a child and reared in Baltimore. The Talking Heads made their debut at CBGB’s in NewYork’s punk rock club in June 1975. Their first recording, Talking Heads: 77, made the record industry sit up and take notice.

Andrew Carnegie was an iron and steel manufacturer. His life was a classic rag to riches story of the poor immigrant boy who grows up to become a rich man. He turned the iron and steel industries into the country’s first big businesses. Andrew was born in Dunfermline, Scotland on November 25, 1835. Andrew was also a great philanthropist. He gave money to many educational institutions and founded nearly 3,000 free public libraries in America and Great Britain. In 1900 he wrote The Gospel of Wealth, in which he said that the rich should distribute their wealth during their lifetimes for the benefit of humankind. The rich main who died with his fortune in tact died "disgraced".

Mary Garden was America’s first opera star. She was also the first woman to become director of an American opera company. Mary was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1874 and later immigrated to the United States when she was six. Mary moved to Paris and found two excellent voice coaches. Through an American singer, Mary met the director of a Paris opera company. The director encouraged her to attend the rehearsals of a new opera called Louise that he was preparing. One Friday, April 13, 1900, Mary was in the audience when the lead singer fell ill. Mary was asked to take over. The conductor of the orchestra was furious. How dare an untried girl, barely out of her teens, be allowed to perform! Better, he growled, to cancel the performance and give the audience its money back than risk failure. But perform she did and virtually over night, Mary Garden became the toast of Paris. She then appeared in Brussels and London and other cities around the world.

John Paul Jones was the father of the American navy. He is famous for his cry, "I have not yet begun to fight." He was born in Kirkcudbrightshire in southwestern Scotland in 1747. At thirteen, John Paul crossed the border to England to become an apprentice on the ship Friendship. This first voyage took him Fredericksburg, Virginia where his older brother was a tailor.

William Maclure has been called "the father of American geology". He designed the first geological map of the United States. William was born in Ayr, Scotland in 1763. He was a successful businessman at a very young age. William’s ability to make large amounts of money in a short time would enable him to retire at a young age. Although he was successful, he wanted to do something more with his life. William decided to devote the rest of his life to the study of science and education. He wanted to help people who were less fortunate than himself.

John Muir was considered the father of the conservationist movement in the United States and was the first president of the Sierra Club. John was born in Dunbar, Scotland in 1838 and later immigrated to America and settled in Wisconsin. John helped persuade the American government to establish Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. Eventually, saving nature became part of governmental policy.

Allan Pinkerton was the country’s most famous private detective. He was also the founder of the United States Secret Service. Allen was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His father was a Glasgow police sergeant. In 1843 the family immigrated to Chicago. At that time criminals were robbing railroad cars across the country. Several railroad presidents approached Allen Maybe he could do something about the robberies. He established a private detective agency. The Pinkerton trademark was an eye. The slogan was "We never sleep". For this reason all detectives were called "private eyes".

John Witherspoon was a Presbyterian clergyman, educator, and early American patriot. He was also one of the first presidents of the College of New Jersey, which later became Princeton University. John was born in Yester, near Edinburgh Scotland. In 1768, he accepted the presidency of College of New Jersey. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and one of the most important leaders of the American Revolution. He was the only clergyman to sign the Declaration.


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