Today in 1371, King David II died at Edinburgh Castle.

David was the son of Robert I, and succeeded as King of Scots in 1329. He was soon faced with problems from his southern neighbour's new king Edward III. He invaded England in 1346, but suffered a humiliating defeat at Neville's Cross and was held as a prisoner by the English for eleven years. His unhappy reign was further compounded by his dying childless.

Today in 1816, Dr.Adam Ferguson, the Scottish historian and philosopher died. A member of the so-called "common sense" school of philosophy he was the author of Principles of Moral and Political Science and History of the Roman Empire.

Today's recipe: spice up a cold winter's day with a taste of the Caribbean. Ginger, pecan and rum chocolate brownies.