Thomas Muir
100 - 102 Crowhill Road Bishopbriggs Glasgow G64 1RP
“I have devoted myself to the cause of the people.
It is a good cause… It shall ultimately prevail…
It shall finally triumph”
Thomas Muir (Aug 1793)
of Huntershill (1765 – 1799)
Site sponsored by
Thomas Muir 250
A National Committee has been formed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Muir, ‘The Father of Scottish Democracy’.
The committee brings together academics, advocates, local history representatives and politicians from various political parties, to celebrate Scottish democracy in 2015.
The Friends of Thomas Muir
The Friends of Thomas Muir is a local organisation that promotes the memory of Thomas Muir in East Dunbartonshire and the wider community. Our aim is to promote research into the life and times of Muir across Scotland and the wider world.
The ‘Thomas Muir 250’ national committee and the ‘Friends of Thomas Muir’ are grateful to everyone who has helped to make this year’s events possible.
Events: August to December 2015
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Sat 22 August 1.30pm - 3.30pm Free Booking required |
‘The Story of Thomas Muir through words and song’ by John Watson & Davie Waterston. An Irish Heritage Foundation Event at The Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow G3 7DN. Contact Isabelle Gray at the Irish Heritage Foundation for tickets/information (0141-424 0465 or 07784-083544) or by email isabelle.gray@irishheritagefoundation.org. |
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Mon 24 August 1pm - 2pm Free |
Author Murray Armstrong will discuss the legacy of Thomas Muir at Word Power Books, 43 West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DB. Contact Word Power Books for tickets/information (0131-662 9112) or by email sales@word-power.co.uk |
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Mon 24 August 7.00pm for 7.30pm Free Booking advised |
Alex Salmond will deliver a Muir Memorial Lecture at St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, EH12 5AW. Contact Word Power Books for tickets/information (0131-662 9112) or by email sales@word-power.co.uk |
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Mon 24 August Mon - Thur 10am - 8pm Fri - Sat 10am - 5pm Free |
Thomas Muir Museum at Bishopbriggs Library. A redesign of the permanent display at Bishopbriggs Library which tells the story of Thomas Muir, and includes a bust of Muir by Alexander Stoddart. Contact East Dunbartonshire Leisure & Culture Trust for further information (0141-777 3143). |
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Tue 25 August 6.30pm - 8pm Free Ticketed SOLD OUT |
Faculty of Advocates Thomas Muir Anniversary Event. Court of Session, Parliament House , Parliament Square, EH1 1RF Edinburgh One of Scotland’s most notorious court cases, the trial for sedition of the political reformer Thomas Muir of Huntershill, is to be re-examined at an event to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth. Thomas Muir, often referred to as the “father of Scottish democracy”, is one of five men commemorated on the Political Martyrs’ Monument on Calton Hill, Edinburgh. The event is being staged by the Faculty of Advocates within Parliament House, Edinburgh - home of the High Court in Edinburgh where Muir, an advocate, was convicted and sentenced to 14 years’ transportation in 1793 – and will feature the renowned historian, Professor Sir Tom Devine. There will also be dramatic reconstructions of passages of the evidence and speeches, devised and directed by one of the Faculty’s members, Ross Macfarlane, who has professional experience as a writer and director. We would be grateful if attendees could let us know in advance if they have any mobility issues, so that we can ensure these can be accommodated at the event.
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Wed 26 August 12.45pm - 1.30pm Free SOLD OUT |
‘Thomas Muir in Literature’ Portrait Gallery Tour. National Portrait Gallery, Queen Street, Edinburgh. Professor Gerard Carruthers and Professor Nigel Leask, University of Glasgow, will lead a unique tour of selected works from the Portrait Gallery collection related to 18th-century parliamentary reformer Thomas Muir of Huntershill and his circle. The tour will discuss Muir’s relationship to Scottish culture in his own day and afterwards, especially through literature. Contact the Portrait Gallery for further information and to book (0131-624 6560). |
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October Free |
Thomas Muir Exhibition at Edinburgh and Scottish Collection - Edinburgh Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EG to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of Thomas Muir’s birth. Contact Edinburgh Central Library for further information (0131-242 8000). |
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Autumn Free |
Cadder Church Thomas Muir Memorial Window.
Unveiling of window designed and engraved by glass artist Anita Pate. Thomas Muir had been an elder of the church and successfully defended the congregation’s right to choose their own minister. Contact Cadder Church for further information (0141-772 1363 or 07551-967007). |
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7 Sept - 3 Oct Mon - Thur 10am - 8pm Fri - Sat 10am - 5pm Free |
Commemorative 250th Anniversary Exhibition at the William Patrick Library, Kirkintilloch. The story of Muir’s life and times, featuring items from the Thomas Muir collection held in East Dunbartonshire Archives & Local Studies. Contact East Dunbartonshire Leisure & Culture Trust for further information (0141-777 3142). |
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Sat 12 September 10.00am - 4.00pm Free |
Doors Open Day Exhibition of original etchings covering ‘The Times of Thomas Muir’, at The Thomas Muir Coffee Shop, Huntershill Village, 100-2 Crowhill Road, Bishopbriggs, G64 1RP. For further information, please contact Jimmy Watson of the Friends of Thomas Muir (07980-767666). |
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Wed 23 September 5.45pm - 8.00pm Free Booking essential |
Reception at the Scottish Parliament. A reception to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of Thomas Muir’s birth will be held at the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, with contributions from historians and school pupils. For further information, please contact Jimmy Watson of the Friends of Thomas Muir (07980-767666). Email admin@thomasmuir.co.uk to book a place. Bookings must be placed by 12 September.
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Sat 3 October 9.45am - 11.30am Free Bus £ 5 |
Commemorative ‘Democracy 250 Walk’ from the Political Martyrs’ Memorial to the Scottish Parliament. Formal walk through the streets of Edinburgh via North Bridge and the Royal Mile to the Scottish Parliament, led by Milngavie Pipe Band. Assembly at the Memorial in Old Calton Burial Ground, Waterloo Place, will be at 9.45am for a short memorial service before proceeding to the Scottish Parliament for an 11.15am arrival. For further information, please contact Jimmy Watson of the Friends of Thomas Muir (07980-767666). A bus will depart from Huntershill Village at 8.10am and then return when the walk ends. Lets us know you plan to come by booking a free ticket on Eventbrite Return bus tickets can also be booked on Eventbrite
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10 - 31 Oct Tue - Sat 10am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm Free |
‘ Unveiling at the Lillie Art Gallery in Milngavie on Mon 24 August. This specially commissioned work will be on public view from 10 - 31 October at the Auld Kirk Museum, Kirkintilloch. Contact East Dunbartonshire Leisure & Culture Trust for further information (0141-777 3143). |
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Sun 25 October 2.00pm - 3.00pm Free |
Thomas Muir – a Contemporary of Burns. Talk by Jimmy Watson at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Murdoch’s Lone, Alloway, Ayr KA7 4PQ. Contact the Burns Birthplace Museum for further information (01292-443700). |
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Fri 30 October 1.00pm - 5.00pm Free Booking advised |
A range of speakers will discuss Muir’s significance. Contact the University’s Centre for Robert Burns Studies: RobertBurnsStudies@Glasgow.ac.uk for further information. |
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Fri 30 October 9.00am - 5.00pm Free |
Exhibition at the University of Glasgow to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of Thomas Muir’s birth. Level 12 of the University of Glasgow Library, Special Collections, Hillhead Street, Glasgow G12 8QE. Contact the University’s Centre for Robert Burns Studies: RobertBurnsStudies@Glasgow.ac.uk for further information. |
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14 - 28 Nov 10am - 4pm Free |
East Dunbartonshire Schools Art Competition (‘Thomas Muir’ theme). Finalists exhibited at the Thomas Muir Coffee Shop, Huntershill Village, Bishopbriggs. Overall winning portrait to be gifted to the Scottish Parliament. For further information, please contact Jimmy Watson of the Friends of Thomas Muir (07980-767666). |
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Fri 20 November 7.30pm - 10.45pm £15 Booking advised |
Thomas Muir 250 Memorial Concert at the University of Glasgow . Artists/Performers will include Dick Gaughan, Rallion, Kirkintilloch Male Voice Choir & John McLaughlin. For further information, visit www.thomasmuir.co.uk or book tickets online with Eventbrite.
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Tue 24 November 2.30pm - 3.30pm Free |
Schools Debating Event: Thomas Muir and his Legacy. Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre Weston Link, National Galleries of Scotland on the Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL. Pupils from across Scotland come together for a debate in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Muir. The audience will hear the participants exploring issues relating to the development of democracy. Contact the Portrait Gallery for further information (0131-624 6200). |
Edinburgh Book Fringe. 
Thomas Muir Memorial Lecture.
The Trials of Thomas Muir’ a new portrait by Ken Currie.
University of Glasgow ‘Thomas Muir 250’ Symposium
Question Time: