On this day in 1921

Born in North Ayrshire in 1840, John Boyd Dunlop is famous for ‘inventing’ the pneumatic tyre, despite an earlier patent for pneumatic tyres having already been granted to a fellow Scot, Robert Thomson.

Dunlop had trained as a vet and originally made a living in that field. However, he would find fame as the man who made air-filled tyres, initially for his son’s tricycle, but later for adult racing cyclists, whose success was credited, at least partly, to Dunlop’s invention.

First race with tyres

The Freeman’s Journal of 25 October 1921 revealed that the first race in which the tyres were used was at Belfast College Sports, at which Dunlop had convinced a young cyclist called Dick Hume to try the new wheels. “When he appeared he was received with roars of laughter and was freely chaffed by the spectators. In the third lap only the brothers Du Cros were in front. Then the bell rang, and 200 yards from the finish line, with what appeared to be a wonderful spurt, Hume passed both the Du Cros, and won by about 60 yards.”

The Du Cros brothers to whom the paper refers were the sons of financier and Member of Parliament Harvey Du Cros, and they “were regarded as among the speediest riders on the cycle track”. Their defeat seemingly brought Dunlop’s invention to their father’s attention, for he formed a tyre-making business with the inventor and, eventually, bought him out entirely. Du Cros’ company was acquired several times over succeeding years, and eventually took Dunlop’s name as its own.

Dunlop dies in Dublin

The Lichfield Mercury of 28 October 1921 was one of many reporting his death in Dublin five days earlier at the age of 81. “Whether his invention greatly enriched him is not very clear – it is generally believed he did not accumulate much wealth therefore – but it has been the means of enriching many others, and it has proved a great boon to the users of cycle and motor vehicles ever since about the year 1890,” the paper told its readers. “Certainly it was the means of greatly extending the popularity of the ordinary cycle, and hastened the arrival of the motor vehicle.”

The Freeman’s Journal of 27 October reported that his funeral had been very well attended and that “in tribute to the memory of Mr Dunlop, all the motor traders of the city stopped business and closed their premises during the hours occupied by the funeral.”

 

...and on this day in 1839

Comrie had already been the site of many earthquakes over the years. Then, in 1839, the big one struck. It was felt across most of Scotland and parts of northern England. Several Comrie houses came off worse for wear, but the most significant damage was to a dam in Stirling, which was compromised by the tremor and broke the following morning.

The 200-acre reservoir of which the dam formed a part was only four years old and had been constructed to provide a constant water supply for local industry. “The embankment being ruptured, the efflux of its waters, like an impetuous mountain torrent, irresistibly swept off everything which opposed its course,” wrote The Pilot of 1 November 1839. “The inundation covers hundreds of acres, which have been cleared of any outstanding crops. The river Carron, as it passes near this, was literally dense with turnips, hay &c. Some livestock, we learn, were found swimming in the torrent.”

Shocks felt

Fortunately, nobody was killed by the flood water. The London Evening Standard of 29 October 1839 carried reports from several Scottish correspondents, including one in Alloa who noted that “two very smart shocks were felt here… [the first] indicated its approach in a loud noise, something like distant thunder, but much more awful and alarming. Many people felt their beds considerably agitated, and furniture of all kinds, especially crockery and clock work (the weights) shook violently. House bells in some places were set a-ringing, and some people were so terrified as to run to the streets.”

The Morning Advertiser, also of 29 October, revealed that church ministers held a meeting after the tremor and considered it to be “a document that God is angry against the land, and against this city [Aberdeen] in particular for the manifold sins of the people.” They ordained that all the residents should fast the following day and visit church to promise that they would resist sin. In particular, the ministers were concerned that people were salmon fishing on Sundays

 

...and on this day in 1295

Late thirteenth-century England had a habit of causing problems for its closest neighbours, Scotland and France. So, it made sense for the two kingdoms to form a military alliance – the Auld Alliance – so that, if one should be attacked, the other would either come to its aid or attack English territory elsewhere, thus drawing away English troops and attention.

The treaty was renewed with each succeeding French or Scottish monarch for the next 265 years until the signing of the Treaty of Edinburgh in 1560.