William Douglas's Blog (611)

‘Finding David Douglas’ was four years in the making and is the first to focus on remarkable botanist and plant hunter, David Douglas (1799-1834) who explored western North America in the 1820s and 1830s and introduced more than 200 new species to the gardens and forests of Europe.

The film - a collaboration between The Oregon Cultural…

Richard Giles "Dick" Douglas who died on 3rd May 2014, was a former Scottish politician, having been a member of the British House of Commons firstly as a Labour Co-operative candidate, then latterly as a Scottish National Party member.

After he was faced with legal action for not paying his poll tax - by then 800 Clydesdale Bank notes - he rose to his feet in the…

I have just received an appeal for funds for Poppy Scotland.

Poppyscotland is the leading charity supporting ex-Servicemen and women and their families in Scotland. The charity is probably best known for running the iconic Scottish Poppy Appeal, but they work all year round to help veterans and their families receive the care and support they urgently…

Ronnie Brown, of the Corries, seen here with the late Duke of Hamilton, will be at Lennoxlove for the Douglas Clan Gathering to talk about his painting on 2nd July.

Towards the end of the afternoon, we will be entertained by the Haddington Pipe Band.

It should be a memorable afternoon.

See also:

Painting - http://goo.gl/Ivtppb

video - http://goo.gl/mZWjEX…

Scotland international Andrew Douglas (Inverclyde AC) defeated a field of 294 runners in Caithness on 11th May 2014 to win the Castle of Mey 10km in a course record time.

The Edinburgh-based runner, who comes from Halkirk, recorded 31min 3sec to knock exactly 3min off the old standard set last year by Gordon Lennox. Douglas finished well clear of the 2009 winner…

I have no idea how one would access these, but there is a useful collection of Douglas genealogies in the Library of Congress: http://goo.gl/f74QBa ;

Hugh Scott-Douglas’ second solo exhibition at the Croy Nielsen Gallery, Berlin, features two new large sculptures as well as new works from the series ‘Chopped Bills’.

Involved in the migration of images and abstractions across the mediums of painting, photography, and pure numerical data, the exhibition is a continuation of Scott-Douglas’ interest in the meanings and metaphors of digitization, economics and the aesthetic potential of mechanical…

Usually, Savannah marathon runner Isaiah Douglas is concerned with finishing as fast as possible.

But Monday, the 52-year-old understood the significance of just competing in his 16th Boston Marathon.

It was a year ago when allegedly two terrorists planted two bombs near the finish line at the marathon. Three people died, 264 were injured.

In the following days, a policeman and one of the alleged terrorists were killed.

But the tragedies only showed the resolve of…

In April 1941, Lt Commander Francis Douglas-Watson was serving at HMS Nile (RN base, Alexandria, Egypt), but on 7th April, he was ashore in the Greek harbour of Piraeus when the British steamer Clan Fraser (7529grt), of convoy ANF .24, was damaged by German bombing and set afire. At 0330hrs on the 7th, the explosion of her TNT cargo sank the steamer and wrecked the harbour, killing Cdr.…

A Douglas family bible in the possession of WESC Foundation in Exeter is to be auctioned.

The bible donated to the charity once belonged (according to the writing inside the front cover) to Rev. Robert Douglas, who was gifted it in 1883. He then gave it to his son the Rev. Percy Douglas in 1891 and at some point it came into the possession of his eldest son also named Percy Douglas and he gifted it to a newly ordained priest at Wells in 1981 (whose name can't be made…

Atomz, who have provided the search function for the Douglas Archives for many years, appears to have  closed without warning.

I am replacing it.  The old dog is having to learn new tricks, so it may take a day or so to get it up and running across the website.

I missed this yesterday!

When we think of Illinois politicians today we are reminded of those who are currently serving prison sentences — 4 of the last 7 Governors were residents of the old graybar hotel. And too many of those who aren’t in jail are flitting about in ecstatic confusion doing errands for Wall Street.

But there was a day not so very long ago when…

William Carney’s brave actions were honored when he was bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor. An affidavit from Lewis Douglas retells Carney’s actions.

The actions of Sgt. William Carney of the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Colored Regiment at the assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, on July 18, 1863, are perhaps the best-known example of an…

I have been working on the Douglas-Pennant branch, filling in some of the gaps.

Along the way, I have been asked to identify where Sheila Douglas-Pennant fits into the line.  The 1937 American (Florida) press cutting below suggests that she was the BBC's first television compere (Not commerce!) and is the daughter of the Speaker of the House of Commons.…

March 22, 2014 Mark & Cora Peterson-- Kern County Scottish Games, Bakersfield, CA



April 5, 2014 Chuck Mirabile-- Colorado Tartan Day, McIlovoy Park0Old Town, Arvada, CO



April 5, 2014 Diana Kay Stell-- Louisiana Tartan Festival, Minden, LA



April 5-6, 2014 Phil & Loretta Morton-- San Antonio Scottish Highland Games, Helotes, TX



April 11-13, 2014 Diana Kay Stell-- Arkansas Scottish Festival,…

Henrietta Edwards contributes "My father, John Lang, was born in 1907 in New Trows, about quarter of a mile from Auchlochan. He often spoke of the Douglas family and their kindness to his family. At the age of 12 he was 'post boy' for them. This meant he took their pony and trap each weekday evening, to Lesmahagow to meet the 6pm train and collect their mail. He was rewarded by being allowed to present himself at the kitchen door, where the cook would give him a scone and a drink of milk.…

Almost 600 people have already signed a petition to stop the destruction of Douglas Support grounds.

Sandra Dolan said "No-one knew that this was going to happen until it happened. They must have started on Monday afternoon because nothing was happening on Monday…

Carver Richard Douglas, Poet Kathleen Jamie and Battle of Bannockburn Project Director David McAllister at final line of poem-inscription at Rotunda monument

The last word of new, commemorative poem has been inscribed into the round beam crowning the 1960s monument at the Bannockburn heritage site near Stirling.

The poem was written by…

Hal Douglas, who has died aged 90, was the “titan of trailers” - a voice actor whose gravel-toned decrees whetted audiences’ appetites for more than 1,000 forthcoming feature films, teasing out the explosive action, maudlin melodrama and intergalactic showdowns coming to a screen near them soon.

Read his obituary: …

A chest of drawers is being sold on ebay.  With three drawers, it is covered in leather.

Does anyone recognise Andrew Martin Douglas, the maker?