On this day in 1786

James Burton, who is buried in Edinburgh’s Dean Cemetery, was the first man of the modern day to enter the largest tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, which contains the remains of the sons of Ramesses II. Ramesses II was one of the most powerful pharaohs in Ancient Egypt. Unfortunately for Burton, he would have been unaware of the full extent of the tomb he had opened, or who it contained, as access into its inner chambers proved impossible for more than 150 years after his initial excavations.

Burton lived in Egypt for close to 15 years where he helped in the exploration of several tombs, led the exploration of others, and compiled a dictionary of hieroglyphics. However, less than half of his time in Egypt has been accounted for, so there’s no way of knowing the full extent of his work in the country.

 

...and on this day in 1990

“SNP picks Salmond” wrote the Aberdeen Evening Express when “Mr Salmond trounced Moray MP Margaret Ewing in the leadership contest to succeed former Dundee East MP Gordon Wilson.”

Salmond, then 35, took 486 votes against Margaret Ewing’s 186 at the party’s Perth conference. Ewing was the daughter of Willie Ewing, who had been a member of the European Parliament.

Scotland’s place in Europe

Outgoing leader Gordon Wilson’s last speech had also concerned Europe. “He scorned the suggestion that Scotland would never be allowed independent membership of the European Community,” said the Dundee Courier of 22 September. “It was laughable that European nations dependent on imported oil would ever exclude Scotland, the EC’s only large oil producer.”

Salmond remained leader of the SNP until his resignation on 18 November 2014, during which the party became the largest in the Scottish Parliament, and Scotland voted in a referendum on independence from the rest of the United Kingdom. He was succeeded by Nicola Sturgeon in 2014.