Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland
Formation | 1784 |
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Location |
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Membership | ~16,000 |
Key people |
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The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) was founded in Edinburgh in 1784 as the Highland Society of Edinburgh.[1] The Society is responsible for organising the annual Royal Highland Show.
History
The Society had its root in 1723 when the Society of Improvers of the Knowledge of Agriculture in Scotland was created in Edinburgh.[2] This society was abandoned in 1746. A similar society under the name Highland Society of Scotland was created in 1784 with 100 members[3] largely in reaction to the subsistence crises of 1782/3 when many of the estates in the highlands and islands of Scotland were not producing enough food to feed tenants.
It received a royal charter in 1787 becoming the "Royal Highland Society of Scotland" at which membership rose to 150. By the 1870s membership grew to 4650. The society granted bursaries for education and also ran the Argyll Fund, which educated "young highland gentleman" for the Navy, which was instigated by John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll.[4]
In 1828 they began the "Quarterly Journal of Agriculture". From the same time they were housed in a purpose built building on George IV Bridge at the head of Victoria Street in Edinburgh's Old Town. The building also held an agricultural museum. Now attached to Edinburgh Central Library in houses the music library.[5]
Famous members include Henry Mackenzie (a Director), Sir Walter Scott and James MacDonald, secretary from 1893 to 1912.
Discover more about History related topics
Source: "Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2023, February 21st), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Highland_and_Agricultural_Society_of_Scotland.
Further Reading

Clan Campbell

Dunoon

Alexander Nasmyth

Thomas Dick Lauder

Sir John Sinclair, 1st Baronet

Clan MacDougall

Ilay Campbell, Lord Succoth
Archibald Campbell Fraser of Lovat

Clan Maclachlan

Clan MacAulay

Carter-Campbell of Possil

Walter Frederick Campbell

Jeanie Deans

Duncan Forbes of Culloden (judge, born 1685)
References
- ^ "The Society's Foundation". The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ Scottish Garden Buildings by Tim Buxbaum p.15
- ^ Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.2 p.294
- ^ Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.2 p.294
- ^ Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.2 p.295
External links
Media related to Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland at Wikimedia Commons
- "RHASS Official website".
Categories
- 1784 establishments in Scotland
- 18th century in Scotland
- Agricultural organisations based in Scotland
- Agriculture stubs
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- Articles with VIAF identifiers
- Articles with WORLDCATID identifiers
- Charities based in Scotland
- Organisations based in Edinburgh
- Organisations based in Scotland with royal patronage
- Organizations established in 1784
- Scottish organisation stubs
- Use British English from August 2017
- Use dmy dates from August 2017
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