List of people from Edinburgh

Architecture

• James Adam (1732–1794), architect, son of William Adam
• John Adam (1721–1792), architect, eldest son of William Adam
• Robert Adam (1728–1792), architect of Charlotte Square and other notable buildings, son of William Adam
• William Adam (1689–1748), architect of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and father of James, John, and Robert Adam
• Sir Robert Rowand Anderson (1834–1921), architect whose works include the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
• Isobel Hogg Kerr Beattie (1900–1970), possibly the first woman to practise architecture in Scotland
• Alexander Black (c. 1790–1858), architect, who acted as Superintendent of Works for George Heriot's School
• Hippolyte Blanc (1844–1917), architect
• Sir William Bruce (c. 1630–1710), designer of Holyrood Palace
• David Bryce (1803–1876), architect
• William Burn (1789–1970), architect
• Edward Calvert (c. 1847 – 1914), domestic architect
• Stewart Henbest Capper (1859–1925), architect of Ramsay Gardens
• John Alexander Carfrae (1868–1947)
• John Chesser (1819–1892), architect largely based in Edinburgh
• David Cousin (1809–1878), architect, landscape architect and planner, Edinburgh's City Superintendent of Works
• James Craig (1739–1795), designer of Edinburgh New Town
• Francis William Deas (1862–1951) Arts and Crafts architect and landscape designer
• Alexander Edward (1651–1708), Episcopalian clergyman, draughtsman, architect and landscape designer
• Archibald Elliot (1760–1823), works including the Regent Bridge, the Waterloo Hotel and Calton Prison
• Reginald Francis Joseph Fairlie (1883–1952), architect of the National Library of Scotland
• James Leslie Findlay (1868–1952), son of John Ritchie Findlay
• Malcolm Fraser (born 1959), architect of the Scottish Poetry Library
• Andrew Frazer (died 1792), soldier and engineer, architect of St Andrew's Church, George Street, Edinburgh
• Sir James Gowans (1821–1890), maverick architect and builder
• James Gillespie Graham (1776–1855), architect
• Thomas Hamilton (1784–1858), architect
• Robert Hurd (1905–1963), conservation architect
• George Meikle Kemp (1795–1844), carpenter, draughtsman, and architect, best known for designing the Scott Monument
• John Lessels (1809–1883), architect^[1]
• Ian Lindsay (1906–1966), architect
• Robert Lorimer (1864–1929), architect, whose works include the Scottish National War Memorial
• David MacGibbon (1831–1902), architect and president of the Edinburgh Architectural Association
• Ebenezer James MacRae (1881–1951), City Architect
• Sir Robert Matthew (1906–1975), a leading proponent of modernism
• Sir Frank Charles Mears (1880–1953) architect and planning consultant
• Sydney Mitchell (1856–1930), architect
• John Mylne, mason, particularly on George Heriot's Hospital
• Robert Mylne (1733–1811), architect and civil engineer, designer of Blackfriars Bridge in London
• John Paterson (died 1832), architect who assisted with the Old College, University of Edinburgh
• Robert Hamilton Paterson (1843–1911), partner in the architectural practice of Hamilton-Paterson and Rhind
• John Dick Peddie (1824–1891), architect and politician
• John More Dick Peddie (1853–1921), architect
• Frederick Thomas Pilkington (1832–1898), architect in the High Victorian Gothic style
• William Henry Playfair (1790–1857), architect of the National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy
• Benjamin Marcus Priteca (1889–1971), theatre architect
• Robert Reid (1774–1856), King's architect and surveyor for Scotland
• David Rhind (1808–1883), architect
• Sir Thomas Duncan Rhind (1871–1927), architect and military figure
• Witold Rybczynski (born 1943), architect
• James Smith (c. 1645–1731), architect
• Sir Basil Spence (1907–1976), architect, notably associated with Coventry Cathedral
• Thomas S Tait (1882–1954), prominent Modernist architect
• Sir Andrew Thomas Taylor (1850–1937), architect and Conservative Party municipal councillor
• William Wallace (died 1631), mason, particularly on George Heriot's Hospital
• William Weir (1865–1950), architect
• Patrick Wilson (1798–1871), school architect
• Robert Wilson (1834–1907), school architect

Arts

• John Brown Abercromby (1843–1929), artist varying from traditional to avant-garde modernist
• Robert Adamson (1821–1848), photographer
• Bay City Rollers, pop group of the 1970s
• Andrew Bell (1726–1809), engraver and printer, co-founder of Encyclopædia Britannica
• Jemima Blackburn, (1823–1909), painter and illustrator
• William Bonnar (1800–1863), painter of portraits, and history and genre paintings
• Ewen Bremner (born 1972), actor
• Rory Bremner (born 1961), impressionist and comedian
• Sandy Brown (1929–1975), jazz clarinetist
• Mary Cameron (1865–1921), artist who painted mainly Spanish scenes
• Nicky Campbell (born 1961), radio and television presenter^[2]
• Ian Charleson (1949–1990), actor
• Sean Connery (1930–2020), actor^[3]
• Ronnie Corbett (1930–2016), comedian and actor, one of The Two Ronnies^[4]
• David Millar Craig (1878–1965), cellist and BBC personality
• William Crozier (1893–1930), landscape painter
• Finlay Jefferson Currie (1878–1968), actor of stage, screen and television
• Mark Daly (1887–1957), stage and film actor
• Richard Demarco (born 1930), artist and promoter of visual and performing arts
• Thomas Doherty (born 1995), actor, singer and dancer
• Daniel Dow (1732–1783), fiddler, composer, teacher and concert organiser
• Al Fairweather (1927–1993), jazz musician
• Bridget Forsyth (born 1940), actress, Thelma in Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads
• Kirsty Gallacher (born 1976), television presenter
• Henry Snell Gamley (1865–1928), sculptor specialising in war memorials and tomb sculpture
• Ncuti Gatwa (born 1992), actor
• Andrew Geddes (1783–1844), portrait painter and etcher
• William Geissler (1894–1963), artist known for watercolours of the natural world
• Sir William George Gillies (1898–1973), landscape and still life painter
• Iain Glen (born 1961), actor
• Isabella Glyn (1823–1889), actress
• Hannah Gordon (born 1941), actress
• Nathaniel Gow (1763–1831), musician and composer, fourth son of Niel Gow
• Mary Grant (1831–1908), sculptor
• Patrick Grant (born 1972), fashion designer and entrepreneur
• Stan Greig (1930–2012), jazz pianist, drummer and bandleader
• Amelia Robertson Hill (1820–1904), sculptor, wife of David Octavius Hill
• David Octavius Hill (1802–1870), painter and photography pioneer at Hill & Adamson, husband of Amelia Robertson Hill
• John Hutchison, (1832–1910), sculptor
• George Jamesone (or Jameson) (c. 1587–1644), Scotland's first eminent portrait painter
• Alexander Johnston (1815–1891), known for genre and history paintings
• Eugene Kelly (born 1965), member of The Vaselines
• Grant Kirkhope (born 1962), composer
• Sir Harry Lauder (1870–1950), vaudeville singer, entertainer and composer
• Robert Scott Lauder (1803–1869), artist and portrait painter
• John Leslie (born 1965), television presenter^[5]
• William Home Lizars (1788–1859), painter and engraver
• Hew Lorimer (1907–1993), sculptor, son of Robert Lorimer
• John Henry Lorimer (1856–1936), portraitist and genre painter, brother of Robert Lorimer
• Jack Lowden (born 1990), actor
• Dr. James Pittendrigh MacGillivray (1856–1938), sculptor
• Robert Mackintosh (c. 1745–1807), "Red Rob", composer and violinist
• Sir William MacTaggart FRSE RSA (1903–1981), painter known for landscapes
• Magnus Magnusson (1929–2007), television presenter and author
• Shirley Manson (born 1966), lead singer of the band Garbage
• John Maxwell (1905–1962), painter of landscapes and imaginative subjects
• Horatio McCulloch (1806–1867), landscape painter
• Sandy McDade (born 1964), actress
• Greg McHugh (born 1980), actor
• Frances McKee (born 1966), member of The Vaselines; namesake of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love's daughter
• William Miller, 19th-century engraver and watercolourist
• Jacob More (1740–1793), landscape painter
• Alexander Nasmyth (1758–1840), landscape and portrait painter
• Nina Nesbitt (born 1994), singer and songwriter
• Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005), sculptor and artist, born in Leith
• Emily Murray Paterson (1855–1934), artist connected with Glasgow School
• Robin Philipson (1916–1992), knight, Lancashire-born painter influential on Scottish art scene
• Pilot, pop group of the 1970s
• Gail Porter (born 1971), television presenter
• Finley Quaye (born 1974), singer/songwriter
• John Rae (born 1966), jazz musician and composer
• Sir Henry Raeburn (1756–1823), portrait artist
• Allan Ramsay (1713–1784), painter
• Anne Redpath OBE (1895–1967), artist best known for domestic still lifes
• John Rhind (1828–1892), sculptor
• Ian Richardson, (1934–2007), actor
• David Roberts (1796–1864), painter and lithographer
• Alexander Runciman (1736–1785), painter of historical and mythological subjects
• John Runciman (1744–1768/9), painter known for Biblical and literary scenes, brother of Alexander
• Alastair Sim, (1900–1976), character actor
• Robert Archibald Smith (1780–1829), composer and musical conductor in St George's Church, Edinburgh
• Sir John Robert Steell RSA (1804–1891), sculptor, statue of Sir Walter Scott at the Scott Monument
• Iain Stirling (1988), comedian, voice-over actor and television presenter
• Alexander Stoddart (born 1959), neoclassical sculptor
• Ken Stott, (born 1954), film and television actor
• Julian Wagstaff (born 1970), composer
• Ottilie Maclaren Wallace (1875–1947), sculptor
• George Watson (1767–1837), painter
• Louis Whirter (1873–1932), artist, etcher, illustrator and inventor
• John Muir Wood (1805–1892), musician, piano manufacturer, music publisher and early amateur photographer
• John Michael Wright (1617–1694), portrait painter in the Baroque style
• Grace Harriet Warrack (1855–1932), editor, translator and artist

Authors

• Patrick Abercromby (1656–c. 1716), physician and antiquarian
• H. B. Acton (1908–1974), academic in field of political philosophy
• Alexander Adam (1741–1809), teacher and writer on classical literature
• Thomas Aird (1802–1876), poet and editor of the Edinburgh Weekly Journal
• Archibald Alison (1757–1839), Episcopal priest and essayist
• Sir Archibald Alison, 1st Baronet (1792–1867), advocate and historian
• Adam Anderson (c. 1692–1765), economist
• Alan Orr Anderson (1879–1958), historian and compiler
• James Anderson (1662–1728), antiquary and historian
• James Robertson Anderson (1811–1895), stage actor and dramatist
• Joseph Anderson, antiquarian, museum keeper and author (1832–1916)^[6]
• Lin Anderson (living), crime novelist and screenwriter
• Hugo Arnot of Balcormo (1749–1786), advocate, writer and campaigner, History of Edinburgh (1779)
• Kate Atkinson (born 1951), novelist
• William Edmondstoune Aytoun (1813–1865), poet
• R. M. Ballantyne (1825–1894), author of The Coral Island and other books for boys
• Iain Banks (1954–2013), novelist
• Anne Bannerman (1765–1829), poet
• J. M. Barrie (1860–1937), author and dramatist
• Meg Bateman (born 1959), academic, poet and short story writer
• John Stuart Blackie (1809–1895), scholar and man of letters
• William Garden Blaikie (1820–1899), divine, writer, biographer and temperance reformer
• Alan Bold (1943–1998), poet, biographer and journalist
• Alexander Bower (fl. 1804–1830), biographer
• George Mackay Brown (1921–1996), poet and storyteller
• John Brown (1784–1858), minister and theologian
• John Brown (1810–1882), physician and essayist
• Peter Hume Brown (1849–1918), historian; first Edinburgh University professor of Scottish history
• Georgina Bruce (living), horror writer
• George Buchanan (1506–1582), historian and humanist scholar
• Gilbert Burnet (1643–1715), theologian, historian and Bishop of Salisbury
• John Burnet (1863–1928), classicist
• John Hill Burton (1809–1881), advocate, historian and economist
• Angus Calder (1942–2008), academic, writer, historian, poet and literary editor
• Jenni Calder (née Daiches) (born 1941), literary historian
• Peter Ritchie Calder, Baron Ritchie-Calder of Balmashanner (1906–1982), socialist author, journalist and academic
• Henry Calderwood (1830–1897), minister of religion and philosopher
• Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881), philosopher, satirist, historian and University of Edinburgh rector
• Thomas Chalmers (1780–1847), minister of religion, professor of theology, political economist and a leader of the Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900)
• Robert Chambers (1802–1871), publisher, geologist, evolutionary thinker and journal editor
• The Rev. Professor Alexander Campbell Cheyne (1924–2006), scholar of church history
• Vere Gordon Childe (1892–1957), Australian archaeologist and philologist, academic at University of Edinburgh
• Henry Thomas, Lord Cockburn (1779–1854), author of Memorials of His Time
• Stewart Conn (born 1936), poet and Edinburgh Makar (2002–2005)
• Anne Ross Cousin (1824–1906), poet, musician and songwriter
• Helen Cruickshank (1886–1975), poet and suffragette
• Anne Jane Cupples (1839–1896), writer and populariser of science
• David Daiches (1912–2005), literary historian and literary scholar and writer
• David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes (1726–1792), advocate, judge and historian
• Sir John Graham Dalyell (1775–1851), antiquary and naturalist
• Christine De Luca (born 1947), poet, writing in English and Shetland dialect
• Tom Devine (born 1945), historian of Scotland
• William Croft Dickinson (1897–1963), English historian and professor at University of Edinburgh
• Gordon Donaldson (1913–1993), historian
• Gavin Douglas (1474–1522), medieval poet
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), creator of Sherlock Holmes
• William Drummond of Hawthornden (1585–1649), poet
• William Dunbar (c. 1460 – c. 1520), medieval poet
• Dorothy Dunnett (1923–2001), historical novelist
• John Fardell (born 1967), cartoonist, author and illustrator
• Adam Ferguson (1723–1816), philosopher and historian
• Robert Fergusson (1750–1774), poet
• James Frederick Ferrier (1808–1864), metaphysical writer, introduced the term epistemology
• Susan Edmonstone Ferrier (1782–1854), novelist
• Ian Hamilton Finlay, CBE (1925–2006), poet, writer, artist and gardener
• John Fleming (1785–1857), minister of religion, naturalist, zoologist and geologist
• William Fowler (c. 1560–1612), poet, writer, courtier and translator
• Sir William Fraser (1816–1898), solicitor and specialist in ancient Scottish history, palaeography and genealogy
• Iain Gale (born 1959), journalist and author of military novels
• Robert Garioch (1909–1981), poet
• Lesley Glaister (born 1956), novelist and playwright, Writer in Residence at University of Edinburgh
• The Rev. Dr Robert Gordon (1786–1853), minister of religion and writer
• Kenneth Grahame (1859–1932), author of The Wind in the Willows
• James Grant (1822–1887), novelist and historian, Old And New Edinburgh
• Sir Alexander Gray (1882–1968), civil servant, economist, academic, translator and poet
• James Gregory (1753–1821), physician and classicist
• John Gregory (1724–1773), physician, medical writer and moralist
• Andrew Greig (born 1951), novelist, poet and writer on climbing
• David Greig (born 1969), playwright and theatre director
• Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet (1788–1856), metaphysician
• James Hannay (1827–1873), novelist, journalist and diplomat
• Janet Harden (1776–c.1837), diarist
• William Hardie (1862–1916), classical scholar, Professor of Humanity at University of Edinburgh
• Zinnie Harris (born 1972), playwright, theatre director and professor at Saint Andrew's University
• George Campbell Hay (1915–1984), multi-lingual poet and translator
• Hamish Henderson (1919–2002), poet, songwriter, soldier and catalyst for Scotland's folk revival
• Robert Henry (1718–1790), minister of religion and historian
• Peter Hoffmann (born 1956), author and sportsman
• Alexander Taylor Innes (1833–1912), lawyer, biographer and church historian
• Cosmo Nelson Innes (1798–1874), advocate, judge historian and antiquary
• Alan Jackson (born 1938), poet
• Kathleen Jamie (born 1962), poet
• John Jamieson (1759–1838), minister of religion, lexicographer, philologist and antiquary
• Robert Alan Jamieson (born 1958), Shetland poet and novelist who grew up in the crofting community of Sandness
• Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey (1773–1850), judge, literary critic and editor of the Edinburgh Review
• Arthur Berriedale Keith (1879–1944), constitutional lawyer, Sanskrit scholar, Indologist and professor at University of Edinburgh
• Sir Ludovic Kennedy (1919–2009), journalist, broadcaster and author
• Philip Kerr (born 1956), novelist
• Sir Thomas Dick Lauder (1784–1848), academic, novelist, writer
• John Parker Lawson (died 1852), clergyman of Episcopal Church of Scotland and historian
• Frances Leviston (born 1982), poet^[7]
• Frederic Lindsay (1933–2013), crime writer
• John Logan (1748–1788), minister of religion, dramatist and historian
• Michael Lynch (born 1946), historian
• Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800–1859), poet and Edinburgh MP
• Norman MacCaig (1910–1996), poet
• Alexander R. MacEwen (1851–1916), writer, professor and Moderator of United Free Church of Scotland
• Duncan Ban MacIntyre (1724–1812), Gaelic poet and a constable of Edinburgh City Guard
• Angus Mackay (born 1939), historian and Hispanist specialising in Later Medieval Spain
• Sir Compton Mackenzie (1883–1972), author
• Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh ("Bluidy Mackenzie", 1636/1638–1691), lawyer, Lord Advocate, essayist and legal writer
• Henry Mackenzie (1745–1831), lawyer, novelist and miscellanist
• Donald MacKinnon (1839–1914), Celtic scholar, first Professor of Celtic Studies at University of Edinburgh
• Sorley MacLean (1911–1996), Gaelic poet
• Hector Macneill (1746–1818), poet and songwriter
• Hector Macpherson (1851–1924), prolific writer and journalist
• David MacRitchie (1851–1925), folklorist and antiquarian
• Magnus Magnusson (1929–2007), television presenter and author
• James Maidment (1793–1879), antiquary and collector, advocate in disputed peerage cases
• Bruce Marshall (1899–1987), author of Father Malachy's Miracle
• Sir Theodore Martin (1816–1909), poet, biographer and translator
• James David Marwick (1826–1908), lawyer, historian and town clerk
• David Masson (1822–1907), literary critic and historian
• David I. Masson (1915–2007), science-fiction writer and librarian
• Brian McCabe (born 1951), poet
• William Topaz McGonagall (1825–1902), renowned as one of worst poets in the English language
• Thomas M'Crie (1772–1835), Scottish historian, writer and minister of religion
• Candia McWilliam (born 1955), novelist
• Colin McWilliam (1928–1989), architecture academic and author
• John Mein (fl. 18th century), newspaper and almanac publisher and bookseller
• Hugh Miller (1802–1856), writer, geologist, folklorist and evangelical Christian
• Naomi Mitchison (1897–1999), novelist and poet
• Rosalind Mitchison (1919–2002), historian of Scotland specialising in social history
• Alexander Montgomerie (c. 1550 – 1598), Jacobean courtier and makar
• Helen and Morna Mulgray (born 1939), identical twins, authors of crime novels
• Robert Mylne (c. 1643 – 1747), writer of pasquils (lampoons), antiquary and engraver
• Macvey Napier (1776–1847), solicitor, legal scholar and editor of Encyclopædia Britannica
• Mark Napier (1798–1879), lawyer, biographer and historical author
• Charles Neaves, Lord Neaves (1800–1876), advocate, judge, theologian and writer
• Patrick Neill (1776–1851), printer, horticulturalist and naturalist
• John Oswald (c. 1760–1793), philosopher, writer, poet and social critic
• Aileen Paterson (born 1934), children's author, Maisie Comes to Morningside
• John Playfair (1748–1819), scientist and professor
• Andrew Seth Pringle-Pattison (1856–1931), philosopher
• Finley Quaye (born 1974), singer/songwriter
• Allan Ramsay (1686–1758), poet and father of eponymous painter
• Edward Bannerman Ramsay (1793–1872), clergyman of Scottish Episcopal Church, Dean of Edinburgh, Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character
• Ian Rankin (born 1960), author of Inspector Rebus crime thrillers, attended University of Edinburgh^[8]
• Tessa Ransford, poet and founder of Scottish Poetry Library
• William Robertson (1721–1793), historian, minister of religion and Principal of University of Edinburgh
• Dilys Rose (born 1954), poet
• J. K. Rowling (born 1965), Harry Potter author,^[9] wrote first book in Edinburgh coffee-shop, Nicholson's^[10][11]
• Thomas Ruddiman (1674–1757), classical scholar and printer
• Christopher Rush (born 1944), writer and teacher of literature in Edinburgh
• Alexander Scott (c. 1520–1582/1583), poet
• Tom Scott (1918–1995), poet
• Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832), novelist, born in Edinburgh
• James Seth (1860–1925), philosopher
• Sara Sheridan (born 1968), novelist, predominately writing historical fiction
• Catherine Sinclair, Victorian novelist and children's author
• William Henry Oliphant Smeaton (1856–1914), writer, journalist, editor, historian and educator
• Alexander Smith (1829–1867), poet, one of the "Spasmodic School"
• Alexander McCall Smith (born 1948), author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books and of children's novels, Professor of Medical Law at University of Edinburgh
• Sydney Goodsir Smith (1915–1975), poet
• Sydney Smith (1771–1845), English wit, writer and Anglican cleric, first editor of Edinburgh Review
• Christopher Smout (born 1933), academic, historian, author and Historiographer Royal in Scotland
• Muriel Spark (1918–2006), novelist, author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie^[12]
• Adam Stark (1784–1867), antiquary
• Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894), novelist.^[13]
• Dugald Stewart (1753–1828), Scottish Enlightenment philosopher and mathematician
• Matthew Stewart (c. 1717/1719–1785), mathematician and minister of religion
• Annie Shepherd Swan (1859–1943), journalist, novelist and story writer
• James Thomson (1700–1748), poet
• Thomas Thomson (1768–1852), advocate, antiquarian and archivist
• Ruthven Todd (1914–1978), poet, artist, novelist and children's writer
• Nigel Tranter (1909–2000), historical novelist and historian
• William Barclay Turnbull (1811–1863), antiquary
• Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouselee (1747–1813), advocate, judge, write, historian and friend of Robert Burns
• Patrick Fraser Tytler (1791–1849), Scottish historian
• William H C Watson (1931–2005), author, playwright and newspaper editor
• William J. Watson (1865–1948), toponymist, first scholar to place Scottish place-name studies on linguistic basis
• William Montgomery Watt (1909–2006), historian, Emeritus Professor in Arabic and Islamic Studies at University of Edinburgh
• Irvine Welsh (born 1958), novelist, playwright and short story writer, Trainspotting
• Robert Willis (1799–1878), physician, librarian and medical historian
• John Wilson of Ellerey (1785–1854), advocate, literary critic and author
• Sean Michael Wilson (born 1969), graphic novel/comic book writer
• John Philip Wood (died 1838), antiquary and biographer
• Andrew John Young (1885–1971), poet and clergyman

Medicine, science and engineering

• James Ormiston Affleck (1840–1922), physician and medical author
• Alexander Aitken (1895–1967), mathematician
• William Alison (1790–1859), physician, social reformer and philanthropist
• Sir Andrew Balfour (1630–1694), botanist and co-founder of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
• Sir Andrew Balfour (1873–1931), specialist in tropical medicine
• Benjamin Blyth (1819–1866), civil engineer
• Benjamin Blyth II (1849–1917), civil engineer
• Major General William Burney Bannerman (1858–1924) military surgeon
• John Barlow (veterinary scientist) (1815–1856), professor at Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
• Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922), telephone pioneer
• Charles Bell (1774–1842), anatomist, surgeon, physiologist and natural theologian
• Max Born (1882–1970), German-British physicist and mathematician
• Robert Henry Bow (1827–1909), civil engineer and photographer
• Alexander Crum Brown FRSE FRS (1838–1922), organic chemist
• Alexander Buchan (1829-1907), meteorologist, oceanographer and botanist
• Bill Buchanan (computer scientist) OBE, computer scientist
• Eustace Chesser (1902–1973), psychiatrist
• Thomas Clouston (1840–1915), psychiatrist and Superintendent of Royal Edinburgh Asylum
• Fergus I. M. Craik (born 1935), cognitive psychologist, studied at University of Edinburgh
• Sir James Crichton-Browne (1840–1938), psychiatrist and medical psychologist
• Charles Darwin (1809–1882), biologist, studied at University of Edinburgh, On the Origin of Species
• Andrew Duncan (1744–1828), physician and professor at University of Edinburgh
• William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn (1889–1964), psychiatrist and central figure in developing the object relations theory of psychoanalysis
• Sir William Tennant Gairdner (1824–1907), Professor of Medicine in University of Glasgow
• James Gregory (1638–1675), mathematician and astronomer
• William Gregory (1803–1858), physician and chemist
• Alexander Henry (rifle maker) (1818–1894), inventor of Henry rifling and barrel of the Martini Henry rifle
• Peter Higgs (1929–2024), theoretical physicist, emeritus professor at University of Edinburgh
• John Hope (1725–1786), physician and botanist, first Regius Keeper of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
• James Hutton, geologist, born in Edinburgh
• Elsie Inglis, doctor and suffragist, founder of maternity hospital for working-class women
• Sophia Jex-Blake, campaigner for medical education for women
• Alexander Keith Johnston (1804–1871), geographer
• Alexander Keith Johnston (1844–1879), geographer and explorer
• James Kennedy (1797–1886), locomotive and marine engineer born in Gilmerton
• Robert Knox, anatomist and purchaser of bodies
• Dr Thomas Latta (1796–1837), pioneer of saline drip
• Arthur Pillans Laurie (1861–1949), chemist and pioneer in scientific analysis of paintings
• Malcolm Laurie (1866–1932), zoologist
• James Lind (1716–1794), physician, pioneer of naval hygiene, developed theory that citrus fruits obviate scurvy
• Joseph Lister (1827–1912), pioneer of antiseptic surgery
• Jessie Macgregor (1863–1906), doctor and among first women to gain a medical degree from University of Edinburgh
• Agnes McLaren (1837–1913), doctor, missionary and first doctor to give medical assistance to women in India
• Colin Maclaurin (1698–1746), mathematician who made contributions to geometry and algebra
• James Clerk Maxwell, physicist
• Alexander Monro primus (1697–1767), founder of Edinburgh Medical School
• Alexander Monro secundus (1733–1817), anatomist, physician and medical educator
• Alexander Monro tertius (1773–1859), surgeon, anatomist and medical educator
• Duncan Napier (1831–1921), Victorian botanist and medical herbalist
• John Napier (1550–1617), mathematician and inventor of logarithms
• James Nasmyth, inventor of steam hammer
• Stan Paterson (1924–2013), glaciologist
• John Paulitious (died 1645), Edinburgh's first plague doctor
• Marion Ross (1903–1994), physicist
• Daniel Rutherford (1749–1819), physician, chemist and botanist, who isolated nitrogen in 1772
• Robert Sibbald (1641–1722), physician, antiquary and co-founder of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
• James Young Simpson (1811–1870), obstetrician who first used chloroform for anaesthesia
• David Skae (1814–1873), specialist physician in psychological medicine
• Frederick William Adolphus Skae, (1842–1881), psychiatrist and health administrator
• Mary Fairfax Somerville (1780–1872), science writer and polymath
• Charles Spalding (1738–1783), improver of diving bell
• Archibald Spencer (1698–1760), associated with Benjamin Franklin and electricity
• Peter Guthrie Tait (1831–1901), mathematical physicist
• D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson (1860–1948), zoologist, mathematician and author of On Growth and Form
• Professor Ian Wilmut (born 1944), contributor to Dolly the Sheep project, world's first cloned mammal
• Lesley Jane Yellowlees (born 1953), inorganic chemist and first female president of Royal Society of Chemistry

Military

• Sir James Abercrombie, 1st Baronet of Edinburgh (died 1724), British Army officer and politician
• Adam Archibald (1879–1957), recipient of Victoria Cross
• William Bloomfield (1873–1954), recipient of Victoria Cross
• Walter Lorrain Brodie (1885–1918), recipient of Victoria Cross
• William Bruce (1890–1915), recipient of Victoria Cross
• John Cook (1843–1879), recipient of Victoria Cross
• Arthur Edward Cumming (1896–1971), recipient of Victoria Cross
• James Davis (1835–1893), recipient of Victoria Cross
• William Dick-Cunyngham (1851–1900), recipient of Victoria Cross
• Robert Digby-Jones (1876–1900), recipient of Victoria Cross
• James Dundas (1842–1879), recipient of Victoria Cross
• Captain Douglas Ford (1918–1943), recipient of George Cross
• Major John Alexander Fraser (1896–1943), recipient of Military Cross and George Cross
• James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612–1650), nobleman and general in Wars of the Three Kingdoms, executed in Edinburgh
• Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig (1861–1928), born in Edinburgh
• Captain Alexander Mitchell ("Sandy") Hodge (1916–1997), recipient of Empire Gallantry Medal, later exchanged for George Cross
• William Hope (1834–1909), recipient of Victoria Cross
• William Henry Johnston (1879–1915), recipient of Victoria Cross
• Charles Thomas Kennedy (1873–1907), recipient of Victoria Cross
• Allan Ker (1883–1958), recipient of Victoria Cross
• Alexander Gordon Laing (1793–1826), army major and explorer, first European to reach Timbuktu by north/south route
• John Frederick MacKay (1873–1930), recipient of Victoria Cross
• David Stuart McGregor (1895–1918), recipient of Victoria Cross
• James McPhie (1894–1918), recipient of Victoria Cross
• Gary John O'Donnell (1968–2008), British Army bomb disposal expert awarded George Medal twice
• Captain John Porteous (c. 1695–1736), captain of city guard, lynched during Porteous Riots of 1736
• Henry Ramage (1827–1859), recipient of Victoria Cross
• William Reynolds (1827–1869), recipient of Victoria Cross
• Henry Ritchie (1876–1958), recipient of Victoria Cross
• John Simpson (1826–1884), recipient of Victoria Cross
• Alexander Thompson (1824–1880), recipient of Victoria Cross
• George Wilson (1886–1926), recipient of Victoria Cross
• Mark William Wright (1979–2006), corporal, recipient of George Cross
• David Younger (1871–1900), recipient of Victoria Cross

Religion

• David Laird Adams (1837–1892), academic, professor of Hebrew and oriental languages at University of Edinburgh
• John Baillie (1886–1960), theologian and Church of Scotland minister
• James Bannerman, (1807–1868), Free Church of Scotland theologian
• Jenny Geddes (c. 1600 – c. 1660), market trader, threw stool at Dean of Edinburgh in protest at new prayer book.
• Thomas Guthrie (1803–1873), divine and philanthropist, preacher associated with temperance and Ragged Schools
• James Haldane (1768–1851), theologian and missionary
• Thomas Hardy (1747–1798), minister of religion, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and Professor of Ecclesiastical History at University of Edinburgh
• Alexander Henderson (c. 1583–1646), theologian
• Robert Keith (1681–1757), Episcopal bishop and historian
• John Knox (c. 1513–1572), Protestant reformer, whose John Knox's House is preserved in the High Street
• Robert Murray M'Cheyne (1813–1843), minister in Church of Scotland
• Keith O'Brien (born 1938), disgraced cardinal
• William Pettigrew (1869–1943), Christian missionary to Tangkhul Naga
• Jane Smeal (1801–1888), Quaker, leading campaigner for abolition of slavery
• John Witherspoon (1723–1794), only clergyman to sign American Declaration of Independence, president of Princeton University

Royalty

Scottish Enlightenment

• James Anderson of Hermiston (1739–1808), agronomist, lawyer, amateur scientist and economist
• Joseph Black (1728–1799), physicist and first chemist to isolate carbon dioxide
• Hugh Blair (1718–1800), minister of religion and author
• James Boswell (1740–1795), lawyer and biographer of Samuel Johnson
• Thomas Brown (1778–1820), moral philosopher and philosopher of mind; joint holder of Chair of Moral Philosophy at University of Edinburgh
• James Burnett, Lord Monboddo (1714–1799), philosopher, judge and founder of modern comparative historical linguistics
• William Cleghorn (1718–1754), philosopher and holder of Chair of Pneumatics and Moral Philosophy at University of Edinburgh
• John Clerk of Eldin (1728–1812), knight, artist and author of An Essay on Naval Tactics
• Alison Cockburn (1728–1812), poet, wit and socialite
• William Cullen (1710–1790), physician, chemist, early medical researcher and professor at Edinburgh Medical School
• Adam Ferguson (1723–1816), considered founder of sociology
• Sir James Hall, 4th Baronet (1761–1832), geologist and geophysicist
• Henry Home, Lord Kames (1696–1782), philosopher, judge and historian
• David Hume (1711–1776), philosopher, historian and essayist
• James Hutton (1726–1797), founder of modern geology
• Sir John Leslie (1766–1832), mathematician, physicist and investigator of heat
• Thomas Muir of Huntershill (1765–1799), political reformer, leader of Scottish "Friends of the People Society"
• John Playfair (1748–1819), mathematician, "Illustrations of the Huttonian Theory of the Earth"
• William Robertson (1721–1793), one of founders of modern historical research
• Sir John Sinclair, 1st Baronet (1754–1835), politician, writer and first user of the word "statistics" in English
• William Smellie (1740–1795), editor of first edition of Encyclopædia Britannica
• Adam Smith (1723–1790), economist, The Wealth of Nations
• Dugald Stewart (1753–1828), moral philosopher
• John Walker (1730–1803), professor of natural history

Sports

Miscellaneous

• Sir Edward Stafford (1819-1901) New Zealand politician. Served as Prime Minister three times in the latter half of the 1800s.
• Sir Andrew Agnew, 7th Baronet (1793–1849), politician and prominent promoter of Sunday Sabbatarianism
• Charles Umpherston Aitchison (1832–1896), Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab
• Sir Kenneth John Wilson Alexander (1922–2001), economist and university administrator
• Alexander Arbuthnot (died 1585), early printer
• John Bartholomew Sr. (1805–1861), cartographer and engraver
• John Bartholomew Jr. (1831–1893), cartographer
• John George Bartholomew (1860–1920), cartographer and geographer
• John Christopher Bartholomew (1923–2008), cartographer and geographer
• John (Ian) Bartholomew (1890–1962), cartographer and geographer
• Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922), inventor of the telephone
• Sir Robert Duncan Bell (1878–1953), colonial administrator in India, Acting Governor of Bombay
• Ian Blackford (born 1961), Scottish National Party leader in the UK House of Commons since 2017.
• Tony Blair (born 1953), British prime minister 1997–2007
• John Richardson Boyd (1925–2018), milliner based in London
• James Braidwood (1800–1861), founder of world's first municipal fire service in Edinburgh in 1824 and first director of the London Fire Engine Establishment
• Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux (1778–1868), statesman, a founder of the Edinburgh Review and Lord Chancellor
• David Brown, first recorded Jew in Edinburgh (1693)
• William Burke and William Hare, serial killers who sold bodies for dissection.
• Duncan Cameron, inventor of the Waverley nib pen
• William Chambers (1800–1883), publisher and politician, brother of Robert Chambers
• Archibald Cleghorn (1835–1910) married into royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
• James Connolly (1868–1916), Irish republican and socialist leader in the 1916 Easter Rising, executed in Dublin.
• Archibald Constable (1774–1827), publisher, bookseller, stationer, and publisher of the Edinburgh Review
• Helen Crummy, community activist and principal founder of Craigmillar Festival Society
• Elaine Davidson, Guinness World Record holder for "Most Pierced Woman"
• Alexander Donaldson, publisher
• James Donaldson, publisher and founder of Donaldson's Hospital
• George Drummond, Lord Provost and supporter of the New Town, Edinburgh
• Helen Duncan (1897–1956), medium and last person imprisoned under the Witchcraft Act 1735
• Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (1742–1811), Home Secretary and Tory politician
• John Ritchie Findlay (1824–1898), owner of The Scotsman newspaper, philanthropist and donor of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
• Thomas Foulis (d. 1628), goldsmith and financier
• Lord Fountainhall (1646–1722), jurist
• Sir Patrick Geddes (1854–1932), biologist, sociologist, geographer, philanthropist and town planner
• James Gillespie (1726–1797), snuff-maker and philanthropist
• Robert Gourlay (merchant) (fl. 1570-1630), merchant
• Alasdair George Hay, first and current chief fire officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• George Heriot, goldsmith and philanthropist
• Alexander Hunter (1729–1809), physician, writer and editor
• Sir John Ritchie Inch (1911–1993), police officer, Chief Constable of Edinburgh City Police
• Archibald Johnston, Lord Warriston (1611–1663), judge, statesman,
• Sir Duncan Alexander Johnston (1847–1931), Royal Engineers officer, Director General of the Ordnance Survey, and first-class cricketer
• Robert Jousie (d. 1626), merchant and courtier
• Mary King (merchant) fl. 1629, Burgess of Edinburgh and namesake of Mary King's Close
• David Laing (1793–1878), antiquary and editor
• Simon Somerville Laurie (1829–1909), educator
• John Law (c. 1671–1729), economist, Controller General of Finances under Louis XV of France
• James Lorimer (1818–1890), advocate and father of Robert and James Henry
• Flora Macaulay, editor of The Oban Times newspaper
• John Mackintosh (1929–1978), Scottish Labour Party politician and Edinburgh University lecturer
• John MacMorran (d. 1595), Scottish merchant killed by High School students
• Mary Cranston Mason (1846-1932), social reformer and temperance leader
• William McEwan (1827–1913), politician and brewer who funded construction of the McEwan Hall at University of Edinburgh
• Duncan McLaren (1800–1886), politician and political writer, Lord Provost and MP
• John McLaren, Lord McLaren (1831–1910), politician, Lord Advocate and judge
• Priscilla Bright McLaren (1815–1906), abolitionist and suffragist, President of Edinburgh Women's Suffrage Society
• James McLevy (1796–1875), detective and author of popular crime mysteries
• Sir David Monro (1813–1877), New Zealand politician, Speaker of New Zealand House of Representatives
• Angus Morrison QC, Mayor of Toronto
• James Pillans (1778–1864), classical scholar and educational reformer
• John Ritchie (1778–1870), co-founder and later sole owner of The Scotsman newspaper
• George Small (1782–1861), partner in piano manufacturing firm of Muir, Wood and Company, magistrate and philanthropist
• D. Alan Stevenson (1891–1971), philatelist and architect
• Jock Stewart (1918–1989), executioner
• John Guthrie Tait (1861–1945), educator and rugby internationalist
• Sir Charles Tupper, one of the Fathers of the Confederation forming the Dominion of Canada in 1867 and later sixth Prime Minister of Canada
• James Tytler (1745–1804), apothecary, editor of second edition of Encyclopædia Britannica and first person in Britain to fly, in a hot air balloon)
• Andrew Usher (1826–1898), whisky distiller and blender, gifted the Usher Hall to Edinburgh.
• Eliza Wigham (1820–1899), abolitionist and women's rights campaigner

See also

References

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2. ^ "Nicky Campbell". BFI. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
3. ^ BBC News – Connery: Bond and beyond – 21 December 1999 – [1]
4. ^ Edinburgh Evening News – I won't say goodnight yet... – 4 November 2006 – "Edinburgh Evening News - Features - I won't say goodnight yet". Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
5. ^ Edinburgh Evening News – Leslie plots his comeback in the jungle – 16 October 2006
6. ^ "About Joseph Anderson". Joseph Anderson 150 project. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
7. ^ "Frances Leviston - Poet". Scottish Poetry Library. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
8. ^ CNN Q&A: Ian Rankin – posted 4 October 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2006.
9. ^ Collinson, Patrick. "Rub shoulders with Brucie for £4.3m, or Tony for £7,250" Guardian Unlimited, 26 April 2005. Retrieved 21 March 2006.
10. ^ The Scotsman – The JK Rowling story Archived 14 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine – Stephen McGinty – 16 June 2003
11. ^ [2] – Rosalind Gibb and John Gibson – 10 October 2006
12. ^ BBC News – Obituary: Dame Muriel Spark – 15 April 2006
13. ^ Gosse, Edmund William (1911). "Stevenson, Robert Lewis Balfour" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). pp. 907–910.
14. ^ "Jennifer Dodds". www.teamgb.com. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
15. ^ "Chris Hoy | Biography, Medals, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
16. ^ "Who is Josh Kerr, the Edinburgh Athletics Club runner gunning for 1500m gold at the Paris Olympics". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
17. ^ "Doddie Weir, former Scotland rugby international, dies after lengthy battle with motor neurone disease". Sky News. Retrieved 28 November 2022.