Adam Pittson’s Perthshire calendar is famous for many reasons. Not only is it one of the oldest surviving almanacs in the world, but it is also one of the most complete. It was first published in 1740 and has been continually updated and expanded ever since. It has recorded the changing seasons and the passing of famous people for well over 200 years. It is widely considered to be the epitome of Scottish history and literature.
The First Ever Almanac
If we could go back in time and give Adam Pittson a hand-me-down copy of our own smartphone app, we could tell him that his life’s work has begun. The very first issue of the Perthshire calendar was published in 1740, predating the modern concept of an annual calendar by over 20 years. In it, Pittson records the seasons as they came round each year and the events that took place in the Scottish Highlands during that time of the year. He includes historical notes on famous battles, regimental marches, and turning points in the countries history. It is thought that the idea for the calendar came from a similar publication that he saw while in London. Upon his return to Scotland, he set about putting his idea into practice and enlisted the help of a younger brother, Hugh, who was a noted Edinburgh surgeon at the time.
A Record Of Turnings & Seasons
The Perthshire calendar is one of the most important historical documents relating to Scotland. It is renowned for being one of the only surviving records of the weather in the country and is used as a benchmark for historical climate data. It contains the only complete records of parliamentary debates in the country between 1707 and 1846. It has also recorded the deaths of famous people such as Lord Byron, Sir Walter Scott, and Charles Darwin. Darwin’s life was famously chronicled in his autobiography, which was first published in 1876. It also contains a unique record of the country’s music scene, detailing the lives of famous musicians such as Sting, Ed Sheeran, and Bob Dylan. The calendar is frequently used as a primary source for historians, nature lovers, and people who love trivia. It is considered to be an essential purchase for anyone interested in Scottish culture.
More Than Just Weather
The Perthshire calendar isn’t just about the weather, although it does contain some of the most important meteorological data in the country. It also details agricultural information, such as crop yields and prices, as well as the number of sheep and cattle that were born across Scotland that year. This sort of information would not be recorded elsewhere and was not widely available at the time. The calendar was also the first to regularly record the names of Scottish mountain peaks as part of its summaries of weather conditions. This was a common practice, known as the alpine flower game, which continues to this day. Lastly, it is interesting to note that the Perthshire calendar was the first to record the use of canals and inland waterways for transporting goods, and the first to detail the number of vessels used in these activities. The construction of the Caledonian Canal began in 1773 and it was completed in 1778. This would change the way people in the country connected with the outside world. Before its construction, the only viable way of traveling between London and Edinburgh was by ship. The canal provided the opportunity for barges to travel the entire length of the country in a matter of days, reducing the time it took to get to and from Scotland’s most important cities. It was also the first to regularly record significant flooding events in the Scottish Highlands. Between 1814 and 1846, over 70% of the country was affected by flooding.
The Most Famous Almanac In History
The Perthshire calendar is not just a collection of statistical data, weather reports, and agricultural information. It also includes a great deal of narrative and was the first to regularly publish short stories and poems. In fact, it was first published as a newspaper and then compiled into the almanac shape we know today. The publication of Scottish historical fiction ceased after 1846, when the last annual edition was published. It is not known why this was the case, but it is possible that the industry was unable to cope with the frequent disruptions of the modern world. Since its inception, the calendar has recorded the deaths of more than 30,000 people. It contains the only complete record of Scottish parliamentary debates, which makes it a valuable resource to anyone trying to document the country’s history. It has also been used to great effect as a source of illustrative material in children’s books. It was originally published every three years, but is now published annually. The title of the calendar is now used to refer to an anthology of historical short stories, which was first published in 1896.
A Record Of Events
The Perthshire calendar is also famous for its record of historical events. This includes the deaths of famous authors and poets as well as significant battles and military skirmishes. It was the first to regularly record the names of significant battles and their outcomes. Some of the more famous battles that it has recorded include:
- Bannockburn (13 August 1314)
- Kilsyth (11 June 1328)
- Culloden (fuelled by the Jacobite rebellion of 1745) (15 April 1746)
- Largs (March 1815)
- Corunna (September 1809)
- Inverlochy (31 October 1889)
- Black Hill (21 July 1715)
Many of these battles were extremely significant for the future of the country. Bannockburn, for example, was the final battle of the First Scottish War, which was an event that helped to set the stage for the next 300 years of Scottish history. It was also the event that started the Wars of the Roses, a rivalry between the Houses of Lancaster and York, which continued for over 70 years and resulted in the deaths of numerous noblemen and high-profile figures. The battle of Kilsyth is often cited as the “defining moment” for the Jacobite cause. It was the last pitched battle fought on British soil and resulted in a crushing defeat for the Highlanders. This is largely because of the assistance that the French Navy, led by Captain James Cook, provided to the young Jacobite pretender, Charles Francis, who was later made King of Scots as Charles III. One of the most significant battles that the Perthshire calendar has not recorded is the Great War, which was caused by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and which led to numerous other deaths, including those of many notable people. This is mainly because the casualties of this war are not generally regarded as significant enough for inclusion in the anthology. Finally, we can’t leave this article without mentioning the infamous “45-point turn” in the country’s history. This was the point at which the United Kingdom was officially formed, with Great Britain and Ireland uniting to form a new country. The event was widely celebrated across the country and is often considered to be the culmination of 200 years of increasing unionism and the end of the age of patriotism.
More Than Just Weather
The Perthshire calendar is not just about the weather, although it does contain some of the most important meteorological data in the country. It also details agricultural information, such as crop yields and prices, as well as the number of sheep and cattle that were born across Scotland that year. This sort of information would not be recorded elsewhere and was not widely available at the time. The calendar was also the first to regularly record the names of Scottish mountain peaks as part of its summaries of weather conditions. This was a common practice, known as the alpine flower game, which continues to this day. Last but not least, it is interesting to note that the Perthshire calendar was the first to record the use of canals and other waterways for transportation, as well as the number of vessels used in these activities. The construction of the Caledonian Canal began in 1773 and it was completed in 1778. This would change the way people in the country connected with the outside world. Before its construction, the only viable way of traveling between London and Edinburgh was by ship. The canal provided the opportunity for barges to travel the entire length of the country in a matter of days, reducing the time it took to get to and from Scotland’s most important cities. It was also the first to regularly record significant flooding events in the Scottish Highlands. Between 1814 and 1846, over 70% of the country was affected by flooding.
An edition of the calendar would make a great gift for a literary enthusiast, a history buff, or a person who just likes trivia. It is a remarkable record of over 200 years of changing events and is one of the most important historical documents relating to Scotland. It is widely considered to be the epitome of Scottish history and literature.