James Skene
James Skene of Rubislaw FSA Scot FRSE FGS (1775–1864) was a Scottish lawyer and amateur artist, best known as a friend of Sir Walter Scott.In 1797 Skene became cornet of the Edinburgh Light Horse, the regiment largely organised by Scott, who was himself its quartermaster, secretary, and paymaster.[1] In 1802 Skene revisited the continent of Europe, for a time in company with George Bellas Greenough; and he became a member of the Geological Society.[1] Around 1810 Skene led an excavation of the Wellhouse Tower (aka St Margarets Well) on the south edge of the Nor Loch, under Edinburgh Castle.They also found evidence of steps on the outer rock face, leading up to a small platform known as Wallace's Cradle, held a crane, to fetch water to the castle from the wellhouse.[7] Skene produced A Series of Sketches of the existing Localities alluded to in the Waverley Novels, etched from his own drawings (Edinburgh, 1829).He kept in close contact with Sir Walter Scott: the original introduction to Quentin Durward was inspired by Skene's knowledge of France, from a visit in 1822, and the Jewish theme in Ivanhoe was at least partly his suggestion.
James Skene, Lord CurriehillJames Henry SkeneRubislawScotlandOxfordEnglandFSA ScotSir Walter ScottRubislaw, AberdeenEdinburgh high schoolScottish barGeorge Bellas GreenoughGeological SocietyAndrew SkeneSecond New TownRoyal Society of EdinburghGeorge Steuart MackenzieThomas Charles HopeDavid BrewsterScottish Society of AntiquariesPrinces StreetEdinburgh CastleMoray EstateLeamington SpaNor LochJohn SpaldingBannatyne ClubEdinburgh EncyclopædiaQuentin DurwardIvanhoeJohn Gibson LockhartEnglish Cemetery, FlorenceHenry JardineProtestant Cemetery, RomeSir William Forbes, 6th Baronet of PitsligoWilliam Forbes SkeneJames Hay SkeneAlexandros Rizos RangavisFelicia Mary Frances SkeneLee, SidneyDictionary of National BiographySkene, William ForbesInternet Archivepublic domain