BBC HomeExplore the BBC
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

29 October 2014
Accessibility help
Text only
Scottish History

BBC Homepage
Scotland
Scottish History
ยปOn This Day

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Contact Us

Like this page?
Send it to a friend!


14May

Red Fox Cairn

On this day in 1752 Colin Campbell, the Red Fox, was killed in the Appin Murder at Ballachulish.

Colin Campbell, landowner and government official, also known as The Red Fox, left his estate at Glenure with a group of soldiers, riding north through Appin to collect taxes. It has been claimed that his mission included the eviction of members of the Jacobite Stewarts, to be replaced by members of the government-loyal Campbell Clan. At Ballachuilish, a cairn marks the spot where Campbell was shot dead with a musket. Though the hapless James Stewart was hanged as a scapegoat for the crime, the true identity of the murderer remained a mystery for 250 years. However, in 2001 a descendant of the Stewarts of Appin, 89-year-old Anda Penman, identified young Donald Stewart of Ballachulish as the real killer, having allegedly kept a secret that was passed on by word of mouth through generations of her family.


Today in 1754 golf was formalised at St Andrews with the foundation of the St Andrews Society of Golfers. Twenty-two "Noblemen and Gentlemen" contributed to a silver club to be played for annually over the Links of St Andrews.

The first winner was Baillie William Landale, a St Andrews merchant, who became Captain for the year. The competition was initially open to all golfers, as had been that of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in 1744, whose rules the St Andrews golfers used almost without change. Thus began the foremost club in both Scottish golf history and world golf in general.


Today's recipe: making Nick Nairn's pithivier with leek and cheese is easy as pie!


May calendar
Send as an e-postcard1 May2 May3 May4 May5 May6 May7 May8 May9 May10 May11 May12 May13 May14 May15 May16 May17 May18 May19 May20 May21 May22 May23 May24 May25 May26 May27 May28 May29 May30 May31 May


About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy