Famous Scots from Ayrshire and Arran

David Dale 1739 - 1806
Born in Stewarton, Dale joined with the English cotton-spinner inventor Sir Richard Arkwright in a short-lived partnership to build the New Lanark Mills. Dale improved the conditions of his employees, providing a balanced diet, free schooling and low cost housing. The New Lanark World Heritage Village is now a visitor attraction.

John 'tar' MacAdam 1736 - 1836
Born in Ayr, he was the inventor of the macadamising system of road making, commonly known as tarmac.

John Dunlop 1840 - 1921
Dunlop was born in Ayrshire and became a vet. It was his hobby as a cyclist that led him to change the tyres of a bicycle from solid rubber to having a pneumatic tyre. This development was fundamental in the development of the motor

Sir Alexander Fleming 1881 - 1955
Born in Loudon, he worked on anti-typhoid vaccines. He became famous for his discovery of penicillin in 1928 although the drug was not perfected for another 11 years.

Robert Burns 1759 - 1796
Born in Alloway, just south of Ayr, he was the son of a farmer. He was famed for writing in the language of the people. His work became very popular with the literary elite in Edinburgh with its often satirical attacks on the establishment. He later became an Exciseman and died soon after in Dumfries. The Burns National Heritage Park in Alloway includes the cottage where he was born. There is also a museum commemoration Burns in Dumfries.