As part of celebrating 150 years of the Edinburgh Evening News, we’ve taken a look of the 150 most famous faces from our fair city. In alphabetical order, we will be talking through these big names who have made an impact on Edinburgh and the world. We’ve already mentioned Alexander Graham Bell and Arthur Conan-Doyle, let’s have a look at the biggest Edinburgh names, from B-D.
. Doddie Weir
Edinburgh was shaken when Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir died in November 2022 at the age of 52, after suffering with motor neurone disease (MND). The icon won 61 caps between 1990 and 2000 for Scotland, including two in one World Cup against the All Blacks - the only Scot to achieve the feat. After his rugby career he launched the My Name'5 Doddie foundation which has raised millions for MND research Photo: Getty Images
. Bruce Mouat
Bruce Mouat is a professional curler who is the reigning world champion of skip. Born in Edinburgh,the 28-year-old was a student at Edinburgh Napier University. He won silver in the men's team event at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Photo: John Walton
. Callum Skinner
Callum Skinner is a cycling champion who won a silver medal for Team GB at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Born in Glasgow, Skinner moved to Edinburgh's Bruntsfield area at a young age and attended James Gillespie's High School. At the age of 15, he broke Chris Hoy's 200m record for his age group. Photo: David Davies
. Callum Beattie
Mayfield-born singer Callum Beattie rose to fame with a viral anti-Brexit anthem he posted on YouTube called Boris Song. Since, his tracks have been played all over, from the radio to at festivals. His songs include Salamander Street, about an acquaintance who became a prositute in Edinburgh, and Easter Road, about the Hibernian FC stadium. Photo: Michael Gillen
. Catriona Matthew
Catriona Matthew is a major golfing champion who is one of the most popular figures in the game. Born in Edinburgh, she grew up in North Berwick and in 2009 became the first player from Scotland to win a women's major. She also won a golf tournament while five months pregnant and captained the European Solheim Cup team to victory at Gleneagles in 'one of the most dramatic contests in the tournament's history' (Picture: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Photo: Gregory Shamus
. Charles Jenner
Charles Jenner was the co-founder of iconic Edinburgh department stores Jenners, known as the Harrods of the north. A linen draper, Jenner joined forces with Charles Kennington to open 'Kennington & Jenner' in 1838. The original building was destroyed in a fire in 1892, and in a strange mirroring a huge blaze broke out in the new building more than a century later in January 2023 which claimed the life of firefighter Barry Martin. Photo: UNKNOWN
13. David Wilkie
Often described as Scotland's greatest swimmer, David Wilkie went to school at Daniel Stewart's College in Edinburgh where he joined the Warrender Baths Club. Wilkie became an Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion in the 1970s. He is only person to have held British, American, Commonwealth, European, world and Olympic swimming titles all at the same time. Photo: Unknown
14. Deacon Brodie
Perhaps the most imfamous name on this list, Deacon Brodie is the shady character said to have inspired Robert Lous Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. A cabinet maker and deacon by day, by night Brodie was the leader of a gang of burglars. He was hanged in 1788 alongside his accomplice George Smith, on a gallows he had designed. Today, his name lives on in the form of Deacon Brodie's Tavern on the Royal Mile. Photo: NA
15. Dean Reilly
Dean Reilly from Newcraighall is a local hero who has raised thousands of pounds for the MS Society Scotland. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) four years ago, the dad of three promised himself he would never let his condition get in the way of his life – and has since participated in a number of gruelling challenges, including the London Marathon. Photo: Greg Macvean