Women of Scotland

Introduction

A small country at the western fringe of Europe, Scotland has produced more than her quota of outstanding personalities. The exploits of Scottish men such as William Wallace, David Livingstone and John Logie Baird are well known. However, Scotland has also produced an amazing number of outstanding women. From mediaeval warriors such as Black Agnes of Dunbar to Betsy Miller, Britain"s first female ship master, from Williamina Fleming, the leading female astronomer of the 19th century to Victoria Drummond, Britain"s first female chief engineer, Scotswomen have faced tribulation and emerged triumphant. Scotland has also produced politicians such as Flora Drummond and Katherine Marjory, and literary women such as Mary MacLeod and Alison Cockburn.

Nevertheless, despite such a gathering of genius and grit, it is perhaps the ordinary, unsung women of Scotland who deserve more praise, for they have held the nation together. From fisherwomen to mill workers, temperance workers to smugglers, this book introduces some of Scotland"s women.