Perhaps the Canadian province most closely connected with Scotland, the name of which one most readily comes to mind, is Nova Scotia (New Scotland). The land had been discovered by John Cabot in 1497 and claimed for Britain. The vast territory of Acadia was seized by Captain Argyle in the name of James VI of Scotland (James I of England), in 1613. Part of this lovely land became the very first permanent North American settlement north of Florida when Scotsman Sir William Alexander, friend of the king, was granted a charter in 1621. In his book describing the colony, Sir William deplored the ancient proclivity of Scotsmen to expend their energies in foreign wars and encouraged them instead, to send swarms of emigrants "like bees" to New Scotland. Over 300 years later, seven-eighths of its people acknowledge British ancestry, mainly Scottish.

A large group of Ulster-Scots who had first settled in New Hampshire moved to Truro, Nova Scotia, in 1761. Their descendants have provided many of the country's leading justices, statesmen, clergymen, businessmen and scholars. In 1773 the little brig Hector brought 200 Scots to Pictou, starting a whole stream of Highland emigration (their descendants, including the Camerons now number more than 40,000 and are spread throughout North America). Many who came later were loyalists from the U.S. fleeing the aftermath of the Revolution; most early settlers on Cape Breton Island were Highland Scots who found themselves disposessed when their Lairds began enclosing their lands. Nova Scotia's best-known college is Dalhousie University, founded in 1818; and it is the only province to have a Gaelic college. The island has annual Celtic gatherings and the Gaelic Mod to encourage interest in piping, singing, highland dancing and folk arts.

Other Maritime Provinces were also heavily influenced by Scottish settlers. Prince Edward Island was captured from the French by Lord Rollo, a Scotttish Peer, in 1758 and parcelled out among a number of landed proprietors, including many Scots. One such Scot was John Macdonald of Glenaladale, who conceived the idea of sending Highlanders out to Nova Scotia on a grand scale after Culloden. The name Macdonald still dominates on the island, which received a large influx of Loyalists during the American Revolution and another Gaelic-speaking group of Highlanders in 18l3 from the estates of Lord Selkirk.

New Brunswick also became the home for many Scots. In 1761, a Highland regiment garrisoned Fort Frederick. The surrounding lands surveyed by Captain Bruce in 1762 attacted many Scotch traders when William Davidson of Caithness arrived to settle two years later. Their numbers were swelled by the arrival of thousands of loyalists of Scottish origin, both during and after the American Revolution.

One of the province’s and Canada's most famous regiments was "The King's First American Regiment" founded in 1776 in New England was composed mostly of Highlanders, many of whom fought with their traditional kilts to the sound of the pipes. The regiment distinguished itself when it defeated Washington's forces at the Battle of Brandywine. When it disbanded after the War, most of its members settled in New Brunswick. A continual influx of immigrants from Scotland and Ulster meant that by 1843, there were over 30,000 Scots in New Brunswick.

We do not normally associate the province of Quebec with the achievements of Scots overseas. However when the Don de Dieu sailed up the St. Lawrence at the beginning of French Canada, it was piloted by a Scot, Abraham Martin (after whom the Heights of Abraham, scene of Wolfe's victory, are named). The first British governor of Quebec was also a Scot, General James Murray. He received the keys to the city gates from the French commander, Major de Ramezay, himself of Scotch descent. This is not surprising; when we remember "the Auld Alliance," during which the kingdoms of Scotland and France were allied for centuries and close links formed between the two countries.

Many of the kilted soldiers who conquered Quebec for Britain had been Jacobites and followers of Prince Charles Edward. It has been suggested that their victory at Quebec was sweet revenge for France's general indifference to and failure to help the Jacobite cause. It is with bitter irony that we learn that General James Wolfe, for whom the Scottish soldiers fought so well on the Heights of Abraham, had been an area commander during the military occupation of the Highlands following Culloden. The Fraser Highlanders undertook the main charge at Quebec, planting the British flag on the city ramparts. It was this same regiment that did so much to hold Canada for the Empire during the American Revolution.

A large group of Scots chiefly from Ross-shire arrived on the Nephton in 1802 to settle in the Quebec province. Many of their descendents have become prominent in the business, financial and religious activities of Montreal ever since. The great center of the Scottish Loyalists, however, was not in Quebec, but in Upper Canada the Glengarry Settlement, what is now Ontario. Many early settlers from Tryon County in New York State came here, in what was then wilderness. They were joined by many Highlanders during the Revolution, and after the War had ended, by a whole regiment of the "King's Royals."

The chief Scottish town in the Glengarry Settlement was Cornwall. It was reinforced in 1786, when the McDonald arrived at Quebec from Greenock with 520 new pioneers. Soon immigrants came from all parts of Scotland to make it one of the most important Scots-Canadian communities. The Glengarry clansmen managed to get away from their homelands before the British Government's embargo during the war with Napoleon. Many other retired officials from the Hudson's Bay Company joined the Glengarry Settlements.

Another famous Scottish area that came to exert great influence in Ontario was the Perth Settlement, another region of purely Scottish and military origin. Unemployment and suffering following the end of the Napoleonic Wars caused the British government to reverse its former policies and actively encouraged emigration. In 1815, three loaded transports set sail from Greenock for Upper Canada: the Atlas, the Baptiste Merchant and the Borothy. After the War of 1812 ended, many soldiers from the disbanded regiments joined them. In 1816, more arrivals from Ulster helped swell the Scottish element. Many Perth families became prominent in both state and national governments.

Other principal areas of Scottish immigration in Upper Canada during the 1820's included the Lanark Settlement, comprised mainly of people from the severely depressed area of Lanarkshire and the MacNab Settlement, mainly the idea of the Laird of the Clan. The city of Guelph was founded by the Scottish novelist John Galt and the Talbot and Middlesex Settlements. The first founded by Colonel Thomas Talbot, who sold his army commission to emigrate to his grant of 5,000 acres in 1800; the second by a group of Scots Presbyterians in the early 1830's.

In Western Ontario, Scotsmen were prominent in the founding of the Zora Settlement, where the Mackay brothers from Sutherland had set about building a home -- a little Scotland -- for many of their fellow Highlanders in 1820. Other Scottish settlements of note were the Huron and Bruce Settlements, both of which have given us many men and women of note in Canadian affairs.

With so many Canadians of Scottish descent, it is no wonder that they have contributed so much to that most individual of countries. Perhaps it is the very individualism of the Celtic strain that keep Canada from being truly united. For centuries, Scotland considered Canada as an extension of itself overseas. Since the beginning of the 17th century, Canada has been connected in some way with Scottish success or Scottish failure. It was a place to fulfill one's dreams. The great majority of its Governors-General, who represent the British Crown, have been of Scottish birth or extraction. The first of these was Sir William ALexander, Viscount Canada and Earl of Stirling, appointed hereditary Lieutenant of New Scotland in 1621. The long list continues right down to 1935 with the appointment of popular Scottish author John Buchan.

It should be no surprise that a literary man became Governor-General of Canada, for the Scottish element in the dominion has always excelled in matters of education. After all, the Scottish enlightenment of the late 18th century was an outstanding achievement and Scotland's emphasis on free education, open to all, was adopted in Canada. Scottish ideals of scholarship and intellect also spread to the new lands; most of the leading universities were established by Scots, even those not conected with Presbyterianism. The founder of the Universities of Toronto and Trinity was Rev. John Strachan, educationalist, divine and statesman. Strachan also founded the first collegiate school in Upper Canada where he also set up the first grammar schools.

It was Strachan who was intended by its founder to be the first Principal of McGill.

World-famous McGill University, one of Canada's largest, has become renowned for its work in chemistry, medicine and biology; thus, it continues long-practiced Scottish traditions in these fields. It was founded in 1821 with revenue from the estate bequeathed by James McGill, merchant and politician who had emigrated from Glasgow. Its first head was Scotsman John Bethune, a pupil of Strahan (who was prevented from assuming the position only by a delay in its foundation). Another wealthy Scot, Mr. Peter Redpath was responsible for financing the Museum, the library and a University chair. Another educational institution of Scottish origin is Queens, the Presbyterian University of Canada, situated in Kingston "the Aberdeen of Canada," founded largely through the dreams (and hard work) of noted scholar George Munroe Grant.

The list of Scots who influenced Canada's history is indeed a long one. We can only mention a few more that contributed in so many different areas. Born in the Outer Hebrides in 1755, explorer Alexander Mackenzie completed the first known transcontinental crossing of America north of Mexico. John Sandfield Macdonald (1812-1872) became prime minister of the province of Canada in 1862 and the first prime minister of Canada in 1867. Sir John Macdonald (1815-1891), who emigrated in 1820, became the first prime minister of the Dominion of Canada, leading the country through its period of early growth. Under his leadership, the dominion expanded to include Manitoba, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island. Sir Richard McBride (1870-1917) was premier of British Columbia from 1903 to 1915, where he introduced the two-party system of government and worked tirelessly on behalf of the extension of the railroad.

The list seems endless: immigrant Alexander Mackenzie was the first Liberal Prime Minister of Canada (1873-78). Another Scot, William Lyon Mackenzie, who led the revolt in Upper Canada against the Canadian government in 1858, became a symbol of Canadian radicalism. His rebellion dramatized the need to reform the country's outmoded constitution and led to the 1841 Confederation of Canadian provinces. Another Scot, William McDougall was known as one of the fathers of the Confederation and Sir Richard McBride was the Premier of British Columbia from 1903-1915.

In this century, perhaps the most well-known Canadian politician, particularly revered in Britain for his contribution to the allied cause in World War II, was William L. Mackenzie King (1874-l950) who was so proud of his Scots background. King was three time Prime Minister of Canada, doing much to help preserve the unity of the French and English populations in his vast country. The first full time minister of Labour, King was the leader of the Liberal Party for over 30 years. His last years as Prime Minister were from 1935-48.

Established as one of the major ethnic components of the Canadian population during the period 1815-1870, Scots dominated in many areas other than education and politics. Economic affairs also took their interest, and they largely controlled the trade in furs, timber, banking and railroad management. Almost one quarter of Canada's industrial leaders in the 1920's had been born in Scotland, and another quarter had Scottish-born fathers.

As pointed out by historian J.M. Bumstead, it is important to remember that the Scots had a long tradition of struggle to maintain a separate identity in the face of a simultaneous pressure to integrate into a foreign society. Thus over the years, they had gained considerable experience in the ambivalence of being both accomodative and distinctive. Substantial numbers of Scots continued to immigrant to Canada after 1870 thus, keeping this "other-Britishness" (for want of a better word) alive. The early 20th century saw a great boom in the numbers leaving Scotland for Canada.

As one of many ethnic groups in Canada, the Scots have managed to retain their separate identity. For over 200 years, they have entered the country in a constant flow. Their presence has been powerful enough to influence most strongly the dominant Anglo-Canadian culture; their numbers alone do not reflect their enormous influence on Canadian politics, education, religion and business. Never intimidated by the majority, the long, long history of their struggles in the homeland made the Scots an indominatable race in the new lands that they did so much to mould.