40 Cards
Institutions
Forty institutions Scotland gave the world — universities, banks, colleges and more.
University of St Andrews
Founded
Oldest university in Scotland; 3rd oldest in English-speaking world
University of Glasgow
Founded
Adam Smith, Kelvin, Lister, Watt — single greatest concentration of Scottish genius
University of Edinburgh
Founded
Hume, Darwin, Conan Doyle, Bell, Simpson — the Athens of the North
University of Aberdeen
Founded
King's College 1495 + Marischal College 1593; twin ancient foundations
University of Strathclyde
Founded as Anderson's Institution
World's first technology university
Heriot-Watt University
Founded
George Heriot + James Watt legacy; first mechanics institute in the world
University of Dundee
Founded
Strong medical and life sciences reputation
Bank of Scotland
Founded
Oldest surviving UK bank; first bank in Europe to print banknotes
Bank of England
William Paterson
Scottish-designed scheme; template for central banking worldwide
Royal Bank of Scotland
Founded
First bank in the world to offer an overdraft facility
Savings Bank Movement
Rev. Henry Duncan
First savings bank Ruthwell 1810; copied worldwide; financial inclusion
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Founded
Oldest surgical body in the world; barber-surgeons charter from James IV
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
Founded
Oldest medical royal college in the UK
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Founded
Historic medical institution
Royal Society of Edinburgh
Founded
Founding Fellows: Hutton, Black, Smith, Watt — the Enlightenment institutionalised
European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)
Founded
World's first open-sea marine energy test centre; Stromness Orkney
No. 17Encyclopaedia Britannica
Smellie, Bell, Macfarquhar
World's first major encyclopaedia; published Edinburgh; still in use
The Scotsman Newspaper
William Ritchie
First penny newspaper in Britain; voice of Scottish civic life
Carnegie Public Libraries
Andrew Carnegie
2509 libraries worldwide; most transformative gift to public education in history
NHS Scotland
Founded
World's first comprehensive free healthcare system
Court of Session
Founded
Scotland's supreme civil court; one of the oldest courts in Europe
Faculty of Advocates
Founded
Independent body of advocates; historic Scottish legal institution
National Library of Scotland
Founded
Major national research library; one of the largest libraries in the UK
National Galleries of Scotland
Founded
Major national art institution housing world-class collections
National Museums Scotland
Founded
Umbrella organisation for Scotland's national museums
Scottish Opera
Founded
Scotland's national opera company; major cultural institution
Scottish Ballet
Founded
Scotland's national ballet company
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Founded
One of Europe's oldest orchestras; major cultural institution
National Trust for Scotland
Founded
Scotland's largest conservation charity; protects historic places and natural heritage
Historic Environment Scotland
Founded
National body responsible for Scotland's historic environment
Church of Scotland (as institution)
Reformation
Historically dominant religious institution; shaped Scottish society for centuries
Free Church of Scotland
Founded
Major 19th-century religious movement; the Disruption had lasting social impact
Scottish Trades Union Congress
Founded
Major trade union body representing workers across Scotland
Scottish Youth Hostels Association
Founded
Significant cultural and social institution promoting access to the outdoors
Creative Scotland
Founded
National agency for the arts, screen and creative industries
Sportscotland
Founded
National agency for sport development in Scotland
VisitScotland
Founded
National tourism organisation promoting Scotland worldwide
Scottish Enterprise
Founded
Scotland's main economic development agency
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Founded
Regional development agency for the Highlands and Islands