Ulysses S. Grant in Scotland
There is a man in the White House in Washington DC just now who has
Scottish ancestry. But here’s a question for you. Who is the first
American president who came to Scotland? Well, he wasn’t president at
the time. He had just given up his job after eight years.
Do you have the solution? Ulysses S. Grant. The President of the United
States between 1869 and 1877. He was famous as a soldier also. He
commanded the Union Army in the Civil War.
Shortly after his second term as president came to an end, Grant, his
wife and their son left on a world tour. They were away for two and a
half years.
They reached Scotland on the last day of August and received a big
welcome. Grant had Scottish ancestry on both sides. They went to
Edinburgh Castle and also to Abbotsford in the Borders – the old home
of the famous writer, Sir Walter Scott.
They reached Inverness on the 8th of September. There was a public
meeting where the Town Council bestowed Freedom of the Burgh on Grant.
He was the first American ever to have that honour bestowed on him.
He went to visit the Duke of Sutherland in Dunrobin but refused an
opportunity to go hunting in East Sutherland. Unlike many American
presidents, he was not a hunter.
Grant was interested in technology. And he went to Dundee to see the
longest bridge in the world. That was the one across the Tay estuary
which was not quite complete at the time. Two years later, the bridge
would fall in a storm, causing the deaths of 75 people.
And how did he enjoy Scotland? I’m not sure. Unfortunately, he didn’t get
an opportunity to go to Grantown on Spey. And, anyway, apparently it was
Japan he most enjoyed among countries of the world.
Ulysses S. Grant ann an Alba
Tha fear anns an Taigh Gheal ann am Washington DC an-dràsta aig a bheil
sinnsireachd Albannach. Ach seo ceist dhuibh. Cò a’ chiad cheann-suidhe
Ameireaganach a thàinig a dh’Alba? Uill, cha robh e na cheann-suidhe aig an
àm. Bha e dìreach air a dhreuchd a leigeil seachad an dèidh ochd bliadhna.
A bheil am fuasgladh agaibh? Ulysses S Grant. Ceann-suidhe nan Stàitean
Aonaichte eadar ochd ceud deug, seasgad ʼs a naoi (1869) agus seachdad ʼs a
seachd (1877). Bha e ainmeil mar shaighdear cuideachd. Bha e os cionn Arm
an Aonaidh anns a’ Chogadh Chatharra.
Goirid an dèidh don dàrna teirm aige mar cheann-suidhe thighinn gu ceann,
dh’fhalbh Grannd, a bhean agus am mac air turas air feadh an t-saoghail.
Bha iad air falbh airson dà bhliadhna gu leth.
Ràinig iad Alba air an latha mu dheireadh dhen Lùnastal agus fhuair iad
fàilte mhòr. Bha sinnsireachd Albannach aig a’ Ghranndach air gach taobh.
Chaidh iad a Chaisteal Dhùn Èideann agus cuideachd a dh’Abbotsford anns na
Crìochan – an t-seann dachaigh aig an sgrìobhadair ainmeil, Sir Bhaltair
Scott.
Ràinig iad Inbhir Nis air an ochdamh latha dhen t-Sultain. Bha coinneamh
phoblach ann far an do bhuilich Comhairle Inbhir Nis Saorsa a’ Bhaile air
a’ Ghranndach. B’ esan a’ chiad Ameireaganach riamh air an deach an t-urram
sin a bhuileachadh.
Chaidh e a thadhal air a’ Mhorair Chat ann an Dùn Robain ach dhiùlt e
cothrom a dhol a shealg ann an Cataibh. Eucoltach ri gu leòr de
chinn-suidhe Ameireaganach, cha robh e na shealgair.
Bha ùidh aig a’ Ghranndach ann an teicneòlas. Agus chaidh e a Dhùn Dè
airson an drochaid as fhaide anns an t-saoghal fhaicinn. B’ e sin an tè
thar Linne Thatha nach robh buileach deiseil aig an àm. Dà bhliadhna an
dèidh sin, bhiodh an drochaid a’ tuiteam ann an stoirm, ag adhbharachadh
bàs seachdad ʼs a còig duine.
Agus ciamar a chòrd Alba ris? Chan eil mi cinnteach. Gu mì-fhortanach, cha
d’ fhuair e cothrom a dhol a Bhaile nan Granndach. Agus co-dhiù, a rèir
choltais, ʼs e Iapan a b’ fheàrr a chòrd ris am measg dhùthchannan an
t-saoghail.
