The 19 August 1646 saw the death of Alexander Henderson, the Scottish presbyterian cleric.

Henderson played a pivotal role in the successful fight to preserve Presbyterianism as the national religion of Scotland. He was involved in the adoption of the National Covenant in 1638, when Scots leaders pledged themselves to oppose Charles I's attempts to introduce a liturgy based on the English Prayer Book. In 1643, when the English parliament appealed for aid against Charles I, the price the Scots demanded, and won, was Parliament's acceptance of the Church of Scotland as the northern kingdom's official church.

On 19 August 1560 the Scottish scholar and poet, James Crichton, was born. The son of the Lord Advocate of Scotland, he achieved fame in Italy, where his fluency in classical and modern languages and skill as fencer, horseman and debater earned him renown, overcoming the scholars of Padua in a four hour debate.

However, in Mantua he was attacked and killed by the son of the local Duke, one of his own pupils.

Sir Thomas Urquhart's account of Crichton, Discovery of a Most Exquisite Jewel, was the first to refer to him as the "Admirable Crichton" and he is the subject of several novels.

Today in 1808 James Nasmyth, the noted Scottish engineer, was born.

Nasmyth was the son of the noted artist, Alexander Nasmyth, but achieved his fame in the field of engineering, designing and building the first steam hammer. The steam hammer allowed the efficient working of large pieces of metal, vital to the new age of ironclad ships and railways.

Today's recipe: in-season Scottish scallops flavoured with herbs and hazelnut make a lovely light lunch.