As part of the 150th anniversary of the Edinburgh Evening News, we’ve taken a look at the 150 most famous faces to have emerged from the Capital in the past 150 years.
In alphabetical order, we will be looking at the most popular names from Edinburgh over the coming days, to mark 150 years since the Evening News was first published in 1873. In this first installment, from A-B, we delve into the lives and careers of some of the Capital’s most well known faces, including the inventor of the telephone Alexander Graham Bell, Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle and children’s author Aileen Paterson who brought Maisie the cat MacKenzie to the world. We also shine the spotlight on Scotland’s biggest ever music stars The Bay City Rollers, Olympic champion runner Allan Wells and a penguin from Edinburgh Zoo who is the mascot and colonel-in-chief of the Norwegian King's Guard.
. Alexander Graham Bell
One of Edinburgh's most famous sons, Alexander Graham Bell was a famous inventor, scientist and engineer who is credited with patenting the first practical telephone. He also co-founded the American Telephone and Telegraph Company in 1885. He lived from 1847-1922 when he died in Canada aged 75. The family home was at South Charlotte Street, and has a stone inscription marking it as Bell's birthplace. Many other inventions marked Bell's later life, including groundbreaking work in optical telecommunications, hydrofoils, and aeronautics. Bell also had a strong influence on the National Geographic Society and its magazine while serving as the second president from January 7, 1898, until 1903. Photo: Getty
. Adam Black
Adam Black, member of the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, lived from February 20, 1784 – January 24 1874. He was a Scottish publisher and politician. He founded the A & C Black publishing company, and published the 7th, 8th and 9th editions of the Encyclopædia Britannica. He served as an MP for Edinburgh from 1856 - 1865 and was Lord Provost of Edinburgh twice. Photo: Creative Comms
. Aileen Paterson
Aileen Francis Paterson MBE was a Scottish writer and illustrator, best known for her series of children's books about Maisie MacKenzie, the kitten. She died in 2018 aged 83. For most of her adult life, she lived in Edinburgh and was a passionate supporter of that city. She worked as an art teacher from the 1960s to the 1980s. Maisie Mackenzie, the heroine of Paterson's series of children's books, wears a kilt and Fair Isle jumper and lives in Morningside, a suburb of Edinburgh. In 2011, Lothian Buses made Maisie the face of the Number 5 bus, which goes through Morningside. Several stories were also turned into an animated TV series called Meeow! starring Stanley Baxter. Photo: Esme Allen
. Alastair Sim
Alastair George Bell Sim, CBE was a Scottish character actor who began his theatrical career at the age of thirty and quickly became established as a popular West End performer, remaining so until his death in 1977, aged 75. He appeared in more than 50 British films, including an iconic adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novella A Christmas Carol, released in 1951 as Scrooge in Great Britain and as A Christmas Carol in the United States. Though an accomplished dramatic actor, he is often remembered for his comically sinister performances. Photo: Radio Times/ Getty
. Alexander McCall Smith CBE
Emeritus Professor of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh, Alexander "Sandy" McCall Smith CBE became a hugely successful novelist through his The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, The Sunday Philosophy Club and 44 Scotland Street book series, the latter of which is set in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town. The 74-year-old is now one of the world's best-loved writers for both adults and children and his books are published in 47 languages. He is pictured, full of pride, after receiving the Edinburgh Award in 2021. Photo: Lisa Ferguson
. Allan Wells MBE
Allan Wipper Wells MBE is a Scottish former track and field sprinter who became the 100 metres Olympic champion at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Within a fortnight of that, he also took on and beat America's best sprinters at an invitational meeting in Koblenz. In 1981 he was both the IAAF Golden Sprints and IAAF World Cup gold medallist. He is also a three-time European Cup gold medallist among many other sprint successes. He was a multiple medallist for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, winning two golds at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and completing a 100 metres/200 metres sprint double at the 1982 Commonwealth Games. Wells also recorded the fastest British 100/200 times in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 100 m in 1984. He remains the last white male athlete without African ancestry to win the 100 metres at the Olympics. Allan is pictured receiving his Honorary Doctorates of Science from Napier Univeristy in 2014 for services to sport. Photo: Lisa Ferguson
5. Allan Wells MBE
Allan Wipper Wells MBE is a Scottish former track and field sprinter who became the 100 metres Olympic champion at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Within a fortnight of that, he also took on and beat America's best sprinters at an invitational meeting in Koblenz. In 1981 he was both the IAAF Golden Sprints and IAAF World Cup gold medallist. He is also a three-time European Cup gold medallist among many other sprint successes. He was a multiple medallist for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, winning two golds at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and completing a 100 metres/200 metres sprint double at the 1982 Commonwealth Games. Wells also recorded the fastest British 100/200 times in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 100 m in 1984. He remains the last white male athlete without African ancestry to win the 100 metres at the Olympics. Allan is pictured receiving his Honorary Doctorates of Science from Napier Univeristy in 2014 for services to sport. Photo: Lisa Ferguson
6. Andrew Usher
Andrew Usher II was the first Chairman of the NB Distillery, serving from its start in 1885 until shortly before his death on 1 November 1898, aged 72. Among his many bequests to Edinburgh and Scotland was the Usher Hall, which became Scotland's premier concert hall and has welcomed world famous stars over the years and hosted Eurovision in 1972. It is recorded that he donated £100,000 to the city specifically to fund the new concert hall in June 1896. A bust of Usher is located in the hall at the entrance to the Grand Circle. He died before the hall was completed and it was later opened by his widow. Photo: National World
7. Anthony Dawson
Anthony Douglas Gillon Dawson was an actor, best known for his supporting roles as villains in films such as Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder and Midnight Lace, and playing Professor Dent in the James Bond film Dr. No. He also appeared as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in From Russia with Love and Thunderball. He is pictured as the villainous nobleman, Sir Maurice, longtime foe of Ivanhoe, in the TV series Ivanhoe. He passed away in 1992, aged 75. Photo: Bettmann/ Getty
8. Arthur Balfour
Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, also known as Lord Balfour, was a British statesman and Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905. Born at Whittingehame House, East Lothian in 1848, he died in 1930 aged 81. He entered Parliament in 1874, achieving prominence as Chief Secretary for Ireland, when he suppressed agrarian unrest whilst taking measures against absentee landlords. He opposed Irish Home Rule, saying there could be no half-way house between Ireland remaining within the United Kingdom or becoming independent. In July 1902, he succeeded his uncle Lord Salisbury as prime minister. He also suffered from public anger at the later stages of the Boer War and the importation of Chinese labour to South Africa, before resigning as prime minister in December 1905 Photo: Bettmann/ Getty