On 20 August 1682 John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, Scottish politician, died.

King Charles II's deputy in Scotland, he was notorious for his repressive rule. Originally a signatory of the National Covenant, Lauderdale became a Royalist during the Civil War and became the most powerful figure in Scotland after the Restoration. In the early years of his administration he was conciliatory towards the Presbyterians, but as time went on his attitude hardened. A combination of his unsuccessful attempts to suppress religious unrest and the corruption of his regime forced the king to remove him after the Battle of Bothwell Bridge, and Maitland retired to England where he lived out the remainder of his life.

On 20 August 1872, poet William Miller died. Known as "the laureate of the nursery", Miller wrote mainly children's verse. He is best remembered for the classic, Wee Willie Winkie.

Miller never managed to make a career solely as a poet and worked as a cabinet-maker and wood turner for most of his life, dying penniless in Glasgow's East End. However, his memory lingered and public subscription paid for a monument to him in Glasgow's Necropolis.

Today's recipe: with apples now in-season it's time to make a classic British dish.