April 1
Hunt the Gowk Day
April 1st in Scotland was long celebrated as “Hunt the Gowk Day,” a predecessor to modern April Fools’ Day. The word “gowk” is Scots for cuckoo, which also carried the meaning of a fool. A classic prank involved sending someone on a series of false errands with messages instructing each recipient to pass them along to another—an endless wild goose chase. This playful tradition highlighted Scotland’s unique flair for mischief and humor.
1245 – Death of Saint Gilbert of Caithness
On April 1, 1245, Bishop Gilbert de Moravia died in Scrabster Castle. He is remembered as a devout churchman who founded Dornoch Cathedral, where his remains were later interred. His piety and service led to his canonization as Saint Gilbert, making him one of the few native Scottish saints and an enduring religious figure in the Highlands.
1295 – Death of Robert Bruce, “The Competitor”
Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale and known as “The Competitor,” died on this day. He was the grandfather of Robert the Bruce and a key figure in the royal succession dispute known as the Great Cause. Though he failed to gain the throne, his legacy lived on through his grandson, who would become one of Scotland’s greatest kings.
1645 – Burning of Kelso
On April 1, 1645, the town of Kelso was deliberately set on fire in a desperate attempt to rid it of plague. With no medical cure and fear of contagion widespread, such extreme measures were not uncommon. This dramatic event stands as a grim reminder of the horrors of disease and the measures taken to contain it in pre-modern Scotland.
1689 – Parley During Sir George Lockhart’s Funeral
Amidst the political instability following the Glorious Revolution, the funeral of Sir George Lockhart—murdered by Chiesley of Dalry—was interrupted by a parley, requested by beat of drum. This highly charged atmosphere symbolized the deep divisions within Scotland at the time, as the nation wrestled with its allegiances and the fallout of regime change.
1764 – Garmouth Fishing Agreement
On April 1, 1764, a formal agreement was signed by Burghead seamen committing them to work in the newly established fishing community of Garmouth for seven years. This structured migration was part of a larger movement to expand coastal industries and settle emerging towns around Scotland’s growing fishing economy.
1811 – Birth of James McCosh
James McCosh was born in Ayrshire on April 1, 1811. He became a respected philosopher and theologian, eventually rising to serve as President of Princeton University in the United States. McCosh played a key role in bridging Scottish common sense realism with American academic thought, influencing generations of scholars.
1813 – Wreck of the Whaler Oscar
The whaling ship Oscar was lost in a violent storm off Aberdeen on April 1, 1813. Tragically, 44 of her crew perished. The wreck made headlines and drew attention to the dangers faced by mariners working in the northern seas, especially those in the lucrative but perilous whaling industry.
1820 – Beginning of the Radical War
On April 1, 1820, Glasgow awoke to placards calling for a general strike in support of political reform. This sparked the Radical War, also known as the Scottish Insurrection, a brief but significant uprising by weavers and artisans demanding suffrage and workers’ rights. Though crushed swiftly by government troops, it remains a powerful episode in Scotland’s labor history.
1926 – Birth of Sir William Macpherson of Cluny
Born on April 1, 1926, Sir William Macpherson of Cluny served as a judge and the 27th chief of Clan Macpherson. He is most widely known for the landmark Macpherson Report (1999), which concluded that the Metropolitan Police had been institutionally racist in the investigation of Stephen Lawrence’s murder, significantly influencing British legal and police reform.
1989 – Introduction of the Poll Tax
On April 1, 1989, the Community Charge—commonly known as the Poll Tax—was introduced in Scotland, a year ahead of its implementation in the rest of the UK. The flat-rate tax sparked widespread protests and was seen as deeply unfair. Resistance to it galvanized political activism and helped pave the way for greater devolution.
1996 – Local Government Reorganisation
Scotland’s local government was overhauled on April 1, 1996. The two-tier system of regions and districts was replaced with 32 unitary authorities. The aim was to streamline administration, but the reform also changed how services were delivered and how local democracy functioned, with long-term effects still felt today.