Author Discusses His Scottish Family Slavery Links With Jamaica

by | Jun 5, 2021 | News |

This Monday, 7th June at 6pm, award winning author Alex Renton will be discussing his latest book, Blood Legacy, which charts his Scottish family’s involvement with, and benefit from, the slave trade in Jamaica.  Tickets are free and can be obtained from the following link...

Historians Uncover Jamaican Slavery Roots of Northeast Education Fund

by | May 12, 2021 | News |

The Dick Bequest is a charity which distributes grants to help teachers in Aberdeenshire and Moray develop their skills and also provides for the purchase of school equipment.  It was established in 1832 in memory of James Dick who died in 1828 and left a significant percentage of his finances to fund parish schoolmasters in the Northeast of Scotland.  James Dick was born in Forres in 1743 and the research carried out by David Alston and Donald Morrison shows that Dick was involved in the slave trade in Jamaica for 20 years and built his fortune from the resulting profits.  In December 2019 the fund was valued at £1.7M.  Alston and Morrison believe that the money be returned to Jamaica to benefit schools and education there.  We would wholeheartedly agree.  You can read more...

Jamaican Newspaper Highlights Scottish Roots of Jamaica Chamber of Commerce

by | Apr 14, 2021 | News |

The following article, in The Gleaner, one of Jamaica’s national newspapers, highlights the Scottish roots of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce.  It features Robert Milligan and James Dick both of whom were Scots involved in the slave trade.  Milligan was a founder of the then Kingston Chamber of Commerce and Dick was also a member...

National Trust Property Recognises Links To Jamaica

by | Mar 29, 2021 | News |

The National Trust for Scotland are running a project, called Facing Our Past, acknowledging their properties which have links to Scotland’s role in the slave trade.  Malleny Garden, in Balerno, is one such property which has links to Jamaica.  ...

Patrick Colquhoun, Father of Glasgow

by | Mar 11, 2021 | News |

Patrick Colquhoun is often referred to as the Father of Glasgow and was a former Lord Provost of the city.  This article from Glasgow Museums shows that he was also heavily involved in slavery.  He had a close relationship with Henry Dundas who features on the Melville Monument in Edinburgh.  Colquhoun also had interests in Jamaica which this article refers to as well being the agent for a number of slave owners in other islands in the Caribbean –  Patrick Colquhoun, Father of...