Overview

Scotland's maritime heritage is a highly significant one, embracing as it does a quite outstanding contribution to Britain's development both as an empire and as the world's leading maritime power in the nineteenth century. Scottish engineering, ship-owning and operating, as well as business and entrepreneurial skills, played a major part in the success of the Merchant Navy, while Scottish emigrants took skills to every corner of the world, creating trade and wealth both abroad and at home. In terms of engineering, 'Clyde-built' was the Kitemark for the shipbuilding industry the world over. Scottish shipowners included household names such as Allan, Anchor, Donaldson and Henderson, while Scotsmen were instrumental in founding and, for much of the time, managing Cunard, British India, P and O, Orient, Glen and many other 'English' companies. The author tells an exhilarating story of energy and inventiveness, describing the remarkable navigational skills of the highlanders and the technological and business skills of the lowlanders, and relates the early development of the steamship, the impact of emigration, the involvement with exploration and the development of trade routes, and the final flowering of the world's last great iron sailing ships. And the evidence is still here, in the Cutty Sark, the Denny test tank at Helensburgh, and the Burrell Collection at Pollock, all reminders of a remarkable story. SELLING POINTS: The first book to describe Scotland's remarkable contribution to the British Merchant Marine Published to coincide with the debate on Scotland's independence 140 photographs and line drawings

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9781848327504

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The joy of Nick Robins' history of Scotland's maritime prowess is not just his comprehensive and engaging text but also the array of images that accompany his words.... An interesting piece of social history. --Scottish Field

The joy of Nick Robins' history of Scotland's maritime prowess is not just his comprehensive and engaging text but also the array of images that accompany his words.... An interesting piece of social history. --Scottish Field

Author Information

NICK ROBINS, a geologist by profession, is acknowledged for setting maritime history within the bigger social and political picture. His books describe the evolution of a variety of shipping themes, ranging from tugs and tenders to excursion steamers. His last book, The Coming of the Comet, about the Clyde-built paddle steamer, was published in 2012.

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