List of Scottish inventions and discoveries information

"the most significant event of the 19th century will be judged as Maxwell's discovery of the laws of electrodynamics"
— Richard Feynman^[1]

Scottish inventions and discoveries are objects, processes or techniques either partially or entirely invented, innovated, or discovered by a person born in or descended from Scotland. In some cases, an invention's Scottishness is determined by the fact that it came into existence in Scotland (e.g., animal cloning), by non-Scots working in the country. Often, things that are discovered for the first time are also called "inventions" and in many cases there is no clear line between the two.

Some Scottish contributions have indirectly and directly led to controversial political ideas and policies, such as the measures taken to enforce British hegemony in the time of the British Empire.^[2] There are many books devoted solely to the subject, as well as scores of websites listing Scottish inventions and discoveries with varying degrees of science.^{[not verified in body]}

Even before the Industrial Revolution, Scots have been at the forefront of innovation and discovery across a wide range of spheres. Some of the most significant products of Scottish ingenuity include James Watt's steam engine, improving on that of Thomas Newcomen,^[3] the bicycle,^[4] macadamisation (not to be confused with tarmac or tarmacadam^[5]), Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the first practical telephone,^[6] John Logie Baird's invention of television,^[7]^[8] Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin^[9] and insulin.^[10]

The following is a list of inventions, innovations, or discoveries that are known or generally recognised as being Scottish.

^ The Feynman Lectures on Physics Vol. II Ch. 1: Electromagnetism
^ Chua, Amy (2007). Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance–and Why They Fall (1st ed.). New York: Doubleday. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-385-51284-8. OCLC 123079516.
^ "BBC - History - James Watt". Retrieved 31 December 2008.
^ "BBC - History - Kirkpatrick Macmillan". Retrieved 31 December 2008.
^ Cite error: The named reference John McAdam was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Scottish Science Hall of Fame - Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922)". Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
^ "BBC - History - John Logie Baird". Retrieved 31 December 2008.
^ The World's First High Definition Colour Television System. and McLean, p. 196.
^ "Nobelprize.org: Sir Alexander Fleming - Biography". Retrieved 31 December 2008.
^ "Nobelprize.org: John Macleod - Biography". Retrieved 31 December 2008.

[1] The Feynman Lectures on Physics Vol. II Ch. 1: Electromagnetism

[:0-2] Chua, Amy (2007). Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance–and Why They Fall (1st ed.). New York: Doubleday. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-385-51284-8. OCLC 123079516.

[James_Watt-3] "BBC - History - James Watt". Retrieved 31 December 2008.

[Kirkpatrick_Macmillan-4] "BBC - History - Kirkpatrick Macmillan". Retrieved 31 December 2008.

[John_McAdam-5] Cite error: The named reference John McAdam was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[AHP-6] "Scottish Science Hall of Fame - Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922)". Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.

[John_Logie_Baird-7] "BBC - History - John Logie Baird". Retrieved 31 December 2008.

[ADP-8] The World's First High Definition Colour Television System. and McLean, p. 196.

[penicillin-9] "Nobelprize.org: Sir Alexander Fleming - Biography". Retrieved 31 December 2008.

[insulin-10] "Nobelprize.org: John Macleod - Biography". Retrieved 31 December 2008.

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