Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 7.djvu/556

This page needs to be proofread.
536
DUNDEE

Dundee possesses a large number of benevolent institu tions, as well as " mortifications " (dating from 1656 downwards) for charitable or educational purposes. Among eminent men who were natives of Dundee may be named Hector Boece or Boetliius, historian, born about 1465 ; John and Robert Wedderburn, authors or collectors of the book of Gude and Godlie Ballatis published 1578 ; Sir George Mackenzie, the celebrated lawyer, born in 1636 ; Rev. John Willison, author of The Afflicted Man s Com panion, born 1680 ; Viscount Duncan of Camperdown, born 1731 ; James Ivory, an eminent mathematician, born 1765; and Dr Dick, author of The Christian Philosopher, born 1774. The father of Thomas Hood, author of The Song of the Shirt, was a native of the town, and Hood s first literary production appeared in the Dundee Advertiser, about 1816. Robert Nicoll, "Scotland s second Burns," at one time kept a circulating library in Castle Street, and William Thorn, the Inverury poet, rests in the Western Cemetery, where a monument was erected by public subscription over his grave.


Statistics.—The terrible havoc resulting from the siege of 1651 greatly checked the progress of Dundee, but the following century witnessed the beginning of that rapid and healthy growth which of late years has been so marked. The following figures show the population at successive periods of 30 years since 1755:—


1755 Population 12,480 1781 15,700 1S11 29,716 1841 Population 04.G29 1871 121,975 1877 (estimated) 142,951


In 1876 the births numbered 5231, deaths 3076, marriages 1222. The birth-rate was 37 and the death-rate 22 per 1000.

The rainfall in Dundee for 1876 was 43 12 inches, which is con siderably above the average, in fact, the highest of any recorded year except 1872, when it was 4370. The number of "wet days" in 1876 was 230, being 50 above the average. The prevailing winds are westerly.

Previous to 1832, Dundee was grouped with Forfar, Perth, Cupar, and St Andrews in returning a member to Parliament ; the Reform Act gave it the privilege of a member for itself, and the Act of 1868 added another. For municipal purposes the town is divided into nine wards, the third of which includes the populous and thriving suburb of Lochee. The town council is composed of the provost, dean of guild, 6 bailies, and 20 councillors ; these are also the police and water commissioners. Part of the town being ki the parish, of Dundee, and part in the united parishes of Lift and Benvie, there are two parochial boards. When, the Education Act came into operation (1873) there was class-room accommodation within the burgh for 17,719 pupils, and since then the school board has built or enlarged 10 schools. In 1877 there was accommoda tion for 20,615 pupils, and the number of children in the town of school age, that is from 5 to 13 years, was estimated at 21,000. The principal educatioiial institution is the high school, where an excel lent curriculum is available ; and since 1875 classes, taught by professors from St Andrews, have been opened for the study of chemistry, geology, physiology, and literature.

In 1866 the ratepayers cordially adopted the Free Libraries Act, and advantage has been largely taken oi the privileges thus afforded. The library premises are centrically situated in Albert Square, and include a lending library, reference library, museum, and picture gallery, admission being free. In the lending library there are 25,000 volumes, in the reference library 5500. A fine arts exhibition is occasionally held within the free library buildings, and an Art Union for Dundee has just been sanctioned by the Board of Trade.

There are 78 places of worship in the town, which may be classi fied as follows : In connection with the Established Church, 16; Free Church, 20; U.P. Church, 11; Congregationalist, 6 ; Episco palian, 5; Roman Catholic, 4 ; Baptist, 3 ; other denominations, 13.

Lochee, a suburb of Dundee, forming part of the municipality, is situated about two miles to the north by the Coupar-Angus road. Till within recent years only a small country village, it has now a population of 15,000. It contains several flax and jute factories, by far the largest and most comprehensive in the whole district being the Camperdown Linen Works, belonging to Messrs Cox Brothers and Co. They cover an area of 25 acres, and employ up wards of 5000 persons. The most striking external feature, and one of the prominent landmarks in the district, is the stately chimney-stalk (282 feet high) in the style cf the Italian campaniles, built of parti-coloured bricks, with stone cornices.

Broughty Ferry, three miles distant, towards the mouth of the Firth of Tay, may also be considered as a suburb of Dundee. The name originally Bruch-tay, is believed to be Pictish, and refers to the castle or fortress, which is mentioned repeatedly during the wars of the 16th century. Its picturesque ruins continued till about 1857, when they were removed to make way for the present fort, which is intended as a defence for the Tay, and which mounts 9 guns, and can accommodate 60 men. Broughty Ferry is a burgh under the General Police Act, which was adopted in 1864, and is partly in the parish of Dundee partly in that of Monifieth. Some thirty years ago it was only a fishing village, although designed and partly laid out with a degree of breadth and regularity in the streets which fishing-villages rarely display. The population in 1861 was 3513, hi 1871 it was 5707, and now (1877) it is estimated at 8000. There are nine churches of various denominations, the finest, in an architectural point of view, being the East Free and the Episcopalian, the latter designed by Sir G. G._Scott. Some of the villas on and around Fort Hill, occupied by Dundee mer chants, are exceedingly handsome. Reres Hill and the Castle Green have been acquired by the commissioners of police as recreation grounds for the use of the public.

History.—Dundee is said to have been at one time called Alcctum, but of this assertion there is no explicit documentary evidence. The earliest authentic mention of the town is in a deed of gift by David earl of Huntingdon, dated about 1200, which distinctly designated it "Dunde." The origin of the name is disputed, some absurdly tracing it to the Latin Donum Dei. " the gift of God," others to the Celtic Dun Dhia, the Hill of God, others to Dun taw, the hill or fort on the Tay ; the last named derivation is the most probable. Dundee was erected into a royal burgh by William the Lion, and has always been a place of considerable importance, figuring con spicuously in the early history of Scotland, especially about the time when Bruce and Baliol were contending for the crown. It was here that Wallace was educated ; and here he struck the first blow against the English domination. In the great Reformation movement of the 16th century the inhabitants took such a leading and active part as to earn for the town the appellation of " the Scottish Geneva." Few places have been subjected to more frequent or serious cala mities. It was twice taken by the English in the reign of Edward I. , again in that of Richard II., and a fourth time in that of Edward VI. The marquis of Montrose took it by assault, and set part of it on fire in 1645 ; and in 1651 it was besieged by General Monk, and, after an obstinate resistance, was taken by storm, and given up to plunder and massacre. It was then probably the most opulent, and was certainly the best fortified town in Scotland, and many people of note from Edinburgh and elsewhere had found refuge within its walls. More than one-sixth of the inhabitants and garrison, including the brave governor Lumsden, were put to the sword ; while the plunder was so great as to fill 60 vessels which were seized in the harbour ; but, says Gnmble in his life of Monk, "the ships were cast away within sight of the town, and that great wealth perished." Notwithstanding the number of burnings and plunderings to which Dundee has been subjected, the collection of charters, council-records, and other ancient documents preserved in the archives of the Town House is remarkably interesting and complete. There are characteristic despatches from Edward I. and Edward II., the original charter of King Robert Bruce, dated 1327, a papal order from Leo X., and a letter from Queen Mary, dated 1564, providing for extra-mural interments.

(c. c. m.)

DUNDEE, John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount (1643-1689), born in or about the year 1643, was the elder son of Sir William Graham and Lady Jean Carnegie. Of his youth little record has been kept ; but in the year 1665 he appeared in St Andrews as a student of St Leonard s College. His education was upon the whole good, as appears from the varied and valuable correspond ence of his later years. Young Graham was destined for a military career ; and, having remained in St Andrews for about four years, he proceeded abroad as a volunteer in the service of France. Thereafter, in 1672, he went to Holland, and obtained the post of cornet in one of the cavalry regiments of William, prince of Orange. In 1674 he was raised to the rank of captain, as a reward for having rescued the prince from a marsh where his horse had foundered during a retreat. Shortly afterwards, William having at his disposal the command of one of the Scotch regiments in Holland, Graham made application for the post. He was not appointed, and resigned his commission. In the beginning of 1677 he returned to England, bearing, it is said, letters of strong recommendation from William to Charles II. and the duke of York.

Early in 1678 he accepted a lieutenancy in a troop of

horse under the command of his relative the marquis of

Montrose. Promotion immediately followed. He was ex