Famous Scottish People

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 1 
Sean Connery
(The First Actor to Portray Fictional British Secret Agent James Bond on Film)
Sean Connery
97
Birthdate: August 25, 1930
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Fountainbridge
Died: October 31, 2020

The first person to play James Bond on screen, Scottish actor Sean Connery went on to star in seven films of the franchise. The role catapulted him to international fame, but this charismatic actor was not restricted to his iconic role. He also tasted critical and commercial success in other productions including Murder on the Orient Express and The Untouchables

 2 
Gordon Ramsay
(One of the Most Influential Chefs)
Gordon Ramsay
157
Listed In: Food Experts
Birthdate: November 8, 1966
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Johnstone

A celebrated chef and restaurateur, British national Gordon Ramsay is also a writer and television personality. His TV shows about competitive cookery and food is quite popular. The Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in Chelsea, is his signature restaurant. Known for his bluntness, short temper and strict manner, Ramsay has historically expressed a dislike for vegetarianism and veganism.

 3 
Ewan McGregor
74
Birthdate: March 31, 1971
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Perth

A critically acclaimed actor, known for working in many small independent films, Ewan McGregor’s first notable film was Shallow Grave, followed by Trainspotting which propelled him to stardom. Films like Emma, A Life Less Ordinary and Moulin Rouge and the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the three Star Wars prequels, plus the television series Fargo are his other notable works.

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 4 
Andy Murray
(One of the Best Tennis Players in the World)
Andy Murray
72
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 5, 1987
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Glasgow

One of the best British professional tennis players of all time, Andy Murray is popularly known as the Great Scot since he was born in Scotland. He is the only tennis player to have won two Olympic gold medals in singles competition. Also known for his charitable work, Andy Murray has played key roles in raising money for many charity organizations.

 5 
Alexander Graham Bell
(Inventor of Telephone & Co-Founder of 'American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T)')
Alexander Graham Bell
54
Birthdate: March 3, 1847
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Edinburgh
Died: August 2, 1922

Alexander Graham Bell was a scientist, inventor, and engineer. He is credited with inventing the first functional telephone. He is also credited with co-founding America's major telephone company AT&T, which has been going strong since 1885. Bell's later life was marked by his groundbreaking work in aeronautics, hydrofoils, and optical telecommunications. He was also an ardent supporter of compulsory sterilization.

 6 
Alex Ferguson
(One of the Greatest Football Managers of All Time)
Alex Ferguson
59
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: December 31, 1941
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Glasgow
Alex Ferguson is known for his 26-year tenure as the manager of the football club Manchester United, from 1986 to 2013. He won 38 trophies with the club, including 13 Premier League titles. The first English Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ferguson has also received the knighthood
 7 
Charles II
(King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1660 to 1685)
Charles II
37
Birthdate: May 29, 1630
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: St James's Palace
Died: February 6, 1685
Charles II, son of King Charles I of England, ruled England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1660 to 1685. He was initially defeated by Oliver Cromwell and forced to go into exile, but returned to England after Cromwell’s death. He introduced the Clarendon Code and later sided with the Tories.
 8 
Andrew Carnegie
(Industrialist, Businessman, Entrepreneur and a major Philanthropist.)
Andrew Carnegie
31
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: November 25, 1835
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Dunfermline
Died: August 11, 1919
Andrew Carnegie revolutionized the 19th-century steel industry by investing in railroads, bridges, and other projects. He donated most of his wealth to philanthropic causes, and built significant establishments, such as the Carnegie Hall and the Carnegie Mellon University. In the Gospel of Wealth, he urged the wealthy to donate.
 9 
Billy Connolly
(Stand-up Comedian)
Billy Connolly
33
Birthdate: November 24, 1942
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Glasgow

Billy Connolly is a retired stand-up comedian, actor, and musician. Known for his observational and idiosyncratic comedy, Connolly is widely considered one of the most influential and greatest stand-up comedians of all time. He has also worked with the British charity, Comic Relief and has appeared in a documentary and a live stage show for the charity.

 10 
Bon Scott
(Singer & Musician)
Bon Scott
69
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 9, 1946
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Forfar
Died: February 19, 1980
Bon Scott worked with bands such as The Spektors, Valentines, and Fraternity before joining the Australian hard rock band AC/DC, replacing lead singer Dave Evans in 1974. He was one of Classic Rock’s 100 Greatest Frontmen of All Time. Following his death, AC/DC released a best-selling album as a tribute.
 11 
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
(British Writer Who Created the Character of Sherlock Holmes)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
30
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 22, 1859
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Scotland
Died: July 7, 1930
Physician-turned-author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is remembered for creating the iconic character Sherlock Holmes. He wrote four novels and 56 short stories on Holmes’s detective adventures and also created the characters Professor Challenger and Brigadier Gerard. A sports lover, he had dabbled in cricket, football, and bodybuilding, too.
 12 
Adam Smith
(18th Century Scottish Economist Who is Considered the Father of Modern Economics)
Adam Smith
40
Birthdate: June 5, 1723
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kirkcaldy
Died: July 17, 1790

Widely considered The Father of Economics, Adam Smith was a Scottish philosopher and economist. A pioneer of political economy, Adam Smith played a major role during the Scottish Enlightenment. His book The Wealth of Nations is regarded as the first modern work of economics and a forerunner of today's academic discipline of economics.

 13 
James McAvoy
(Scottish Actor)
James McAvoy
48
Birthdate: April 21, 1979
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Glasgow

A frequent performer in West End productions, James McAvoy has also showcased his acting skills in popular Hollywood movies, such as the X-Men series and Split. Although not an adventurer, he did a BASE jump to help raise money for a charity named Retrak, which helps Ugandan children.

 14 
Gerard Butler
(Scottish Actor and Film Producer)
Gerard Butler
48
Birthdate: November 13, 1969
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Paisley

Gerard Butler is one of the most popular and successful actors from Scotland. He came into prominence with the portrayal of King Leonidas in the fantasy war film 300. Apart from acting, he participates in fundraising events and charity programs. Interestingly, Butler tried his hand at acting only after being fired a week before becoming a qualified lawyer!

 15 
Annie Lennox
(Singer-songwriter of)
Annie Lennox
36
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: January 25, 1954
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Aberdeen
Known for her androgynous look, four-time Grammy-winning artist Annie Lennox became an international sensation with Eurythmics, a duo she formed with Dave Stewart, delivering hits such as Sweet Dreams. Her song Into the West from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King received an Academy Award.
 16 
Karen Gillan
(Scottish Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Amy Pond’ in the TV Series ‘Doctor Who’)
Karen Gillan
55
Birthdate: November 28, 1987
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Inverness

Karen Gillan is one of the most popular and successful actresses from Scotland. She is best known for playing Nebula and Ruby Roundhouse in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films and Jumanji film series respectively. Also a filmmaker, she wrote and directed The Party's Just Beginning, apart from acting in the film. She is also a philanthropist.

 17 
Robert Louis Stevenson
(Author of Famous Novels: 'Treasure Island' and 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde')
Robert Louis Stevenson
21
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 13, 1850
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Edinburgh
Died: December 3, 1894

Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish travel writer, poet, and novelist. A popular writer in his lifetime, Stevenson went about traveling widely and writing prolifically even as he suffered from bronchial trouble; his will power and love for writing won the hearts of many other writers. In 2018, he was ranked as the world's 26th-most-translated author.

 18 
David Byrne
(American-Scottish musician)
David Byrne
15
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: May 14, 1952
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Dumbarton
Talking Heads lead vocalist and avant-garde musician David Byrne has won several awards, including the Grammy, Oscar, and Golden Globe. He has spoken at TED Talks, launched his own record label, and held visual arts exhibitions. He advocates for cycling and has mostly used a bike throughout his life.
 19 
Richard Madden
60
Birthdate: June 18, 1986
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Elderslie

Scottish actor Richard Madden is famous worldwide as Robb Stark from the hugely successful HBO series, Game of Thrones. The series has a cult following and Madden starred in it from 2011 to 2013. He also received critical acclaim for his acting in the series Bodyguard. He has also acted in films like Cinderella, Bastille Day and 1917.

 20 
Lewis Capaldi
(Scottish Singer Best Known for His Hit Single 'Someone You Loved')
Lewis Capaldi
72
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: October 7, 1996
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Glasgow

Lewis Capaldi's success story is one of the greatest testimonies to the fact that magical things can happen when talent meets opportunity. From being just another aspiring singer, he quickly became a popular singer-songwriter in the UK and the US after Ryan Walter stumbled upon his iPhone recording on his SoundCloud account. Subsequently, he was signed to Universal Music Group.

 21 
David Tennant
36
Birthdate: April 18, 1971
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Bathgate

A celebrated son of Scotland, David Tennant is best known for his lead role in the BBC series, Doctor Who, from 2005-10. The show made him a household name and a sex symbol. His career continues to flourish with lead roles in films and television. He’s also a prolific theater actor having played Shakespearean characters like Hamlet and Richard II.

 22 
Robert Carlyle
(Actor)
Robert Carlyle
14
Birthdate: April 14, 1961
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Maryhill

Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning Australian actor Robert Carlyle is best known for his performances in films such as Trainspotting and The Full Monty. Raised singlehandedly by his father after his mother left them, he had initially quit school to become a painter like his father. He deviated to drama at age 21.

 23 
Alexander Fleming
(Physician and Microbiologist Who Discovered ‘Penicillin’ World’s First Broadly Effective Antibiotic Substance)
Alexander Fleming
20
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: August 6, 1881
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Darvel
Died: March 11, 1955

Alexander Fleming was a Scottish microbiologist and physician. He is credited with discovering penicillin, the world's first effective antibiotic substance; a discovery that changed the course of history. He also discovered lysozyme, an antimicrobial enzyme which forms part of the innate immune system. In 1999, Fleming was named in Time magazine's 100 Most Important People of the 20th century list.

 24 
William Wallace
(Scottish Knight Who Became One of the Main Leaders During the First War of Scottish Independence)
William Wallace
20
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: April 3, 1270
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Elderslie
Died: August 23, 1305

William Wallace was a Scottish knight who played an important role in the First War of Scottish Independence. Since his death, Wallace has been viewed as an iconic figure whose story of bravery and valor has inspired several works of art, including the Academy Award-winning film Braveheart. Wallace has also inspired video games and brewery companies, such is his popularity.

 25 
Rose Leslie
(Scottish Actress)
Rose Leslie
53
Birthdate: February 9, 1987
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Aberdeen

Rose Leslie is a popular Scottish actress who gained international fame after portraying Ygritte in one of the most popular TV series of all time, Game of Thrones. Thanks to her popularity, she serves as an icon and inspiration to several aspiring Scottish actresses and models.

 26 
Sam Heughan
(Actor and Producer Best Known for His Role as ‘Jamie Fraser’ in the TV Series ‘Outlander’)
Sam Heughan
30
Birthdate: April 30, 1980
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Balmaclellan

Best known to audiences as James Fraser from the historical drama series Outlander, Sam Heughan was born to hippie parents from the Gandalf's Garden community in London. He supports Scottish independence and has been associated with cancer charity. He has also been the face of the British luxury brand Barbour.

 27 
David Hume
(Best Known for His Highly Influential System of Philosophical Empiricism, Scepticism and Naturalism)
David Hume
15
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: April 26, 1711
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Edinburgh
Died: August 25, 1776

Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, historian, and economist, David Hume, is considered one of the most important philosophers to write in English. His book, A Treatise of Human Nature, is counted among the most influential works in the history of philosophy. His works have influenced numerous thinkers, including German philosopher Immanuel Kant and Christian philosopher Joseph Butler.

 28 
Robbie Coltrane
(Actor)
Robbie Coltrane
11
Birthdate: March 30, 1950
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Rutherglen

Robbie Coltrane is a Scottish actor, writer, and comedian best known for playing Rubeus Hagrid in the popular Harry Potter movie series. Coltrane has also played important roles in other popular movies like GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough. Over the years, Robbie Coltrane has won several prestigious awards, such as the British Academy Television Awards.

 29 
Charles I of England
(King of England, Scotland & Ireland from 1625 to 1649)
Charles I of England
23
Birthdate: November 19, 1600
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Dunfermline Palace
Died: January 30, 1649

Charles I, the King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1625 to 1649, was said to be authoritarian and was in constant battle with the Parliament over the issue of royal prerogative. The friction led to a civil war from 1642 to 1645 between him and the English and Scottish Parliaments. He was defeated and executed in 1649 for treason.

 30 
Calvin Harris
(The First UK Solo Artist to Reach more than One Billion Streams on Spotify)
Calvin Harris
35
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 17, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Dumfries
Grammy-winning DJ Calvin Harris soared to fame with his album I Created Disco. His track We Found Love, a collaboration with Rihanna, charted on the US Billboard Hot 100. He owns a record label and topped Forbes's list of the highest-paid DJs of the world for 6 years.
 31 
Robert Burns
(Poet and Lyricist widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide.)
Robert Burns
22
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: January 25, 1759
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ayrshire
Died: July 21, 1796
Scottish poet Robert Burns, also known as the National Bard and the Bard of Ayrshire, is considered a pioneer of the Romantic movement in English literature. He often drew inspiration from Scottish folk songs. Some of his most notable works include the poems Auld Lang Syne and Scots Wha Hae.
 32 
David McCallum
24
Birthdate: September 19, 1933
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Glasgow

David McCallum is a Scottish musician and actor who gained recognition for portraying Illya Kuryakin in the popular spy fiction TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. He gained international recognition for playing Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard in the action police procedural TV series NCIS. David McCallum has also contributed as a writer, publishing a novel titled Once a Crooked Man.

 33 
Alan Cumming
(Scottish Actor, Writer and Singer Known for His TV Series ‘The Good Wife’)
Alan Cumming
29
Birthdate: January 27, 1965
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Aberfeldy

Alan Cumming is a Scottish-American actor, filmmaker, comedian, and singer. A Tony Award winner, Cumming has contributed immensely to the development of the Scottish Youth Theatre, of which he is a patron. An openly bisexual actor, Cumming's work as an LGBT rights activist has earned him several awards, including the Vito Russo Award and HRC's Humanitarian Award.

 34 
James Maxwell
(Scottish Mathematician and Scientist Who Gave the Classical Theory of Electromagnetic Radiation)
James Maxwell
10
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: June 13, 1831
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Edinburgh
Died: November 5, 1879

Scottish physicist James Maxwell’s contributions included the formulation of the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation and the production of the first light-fast color photograph. His Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution explored the kinetic theory of gases. He has also written poems and was an Elder of the Church of Scotland.

 35 
Kelly Macdonald
(Scottish Actress Best Known for Her Roles in the Films: ‘Trainspotting’, ‘Gosford Park’, ‘Intermission’ and ‘Nanny McPhee’)
Kelly Macdonald
28
Birthdate: February 23, 1976
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Glasgow

Kelly Macdonald is a Scottish actress known for playing Diane Coulston in the 1996 black comedy-drama film, Trainspotting. Kelly Macdonald received critical appreciation for portraying Gina in the made-for-television drama film, The Girl in the Café, for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award. Eastwood High School, where she studied, has a theatre and drama studio named in her honor.

 36 
Donovan
(Singer-songwriter, Guitarist, Composer, Autobiographer, Writer, Poet, Record producer, Film score composer)
Donovan
7
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: May 10, 1946
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Glasgow

Donovan is a Scottish guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for developing and popularizing a distinctive and eclectic style that blended many genres, such as folk, jazz, pop, calypso, and psychedelic rock. Donovan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

 37 
Susan Boyle
(Scottish Singer Best Known for Her Album ‘I Dreamed a Dream’)
Susan Boyle
28
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: April 1, 1961
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Blackburn
Susan Boyle shot to fame with her rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Misérables in an audition for Britain's Got Talent. Her first album, I Dreamed a Dream, was the best-selling debut album in U.K. history. She has also performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
 38 
Peter Capaldi
20
Birthdate: April 14, 1958
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Glasgow

Peter Capaldi is a Scottish filmmaker and actor. He is best known for playing Malcolm Tucker in the British comedy TV series The Thick of It. Also known for his charity work, Capaldi joined hands with other celebrities to help raise awareness about the ill-effects of the global refugee crisis. He is also a patron of the Aberlour Child Care Trust.

 39 
James Watt
(Inventor of Steam Engine)
James Watt
14
Birthdate: January 19, 1736
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Greenock
Died: August 25, 1819
Eighteenth-century Scottish inventor James Watt developed the Newcomen steam engine, by inventing the Watt steam engine, which brough about the Industrial Revolution in Britain and the world. He also co-owned the firm Boulton and Watt and laid down concepts such as horsepower and the watt, the SI unit of power.
 40 
David Livingstone
(Scottish Physician, Explorer and Missionary)
David Livingstone
13
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: March 19, 1813
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Scotland
Died: May 1, 1873

David Livingstone was a Scottish physician who played a major role at the London Missionary Society, where he was a pioneer Christian missionary. He is also remembered for his work as a missionary in Africa. Widely considered one of the most famous British heroes of the late Victorian era, Livingstone was mentioned in the 100 Greatest Britons list in 2002.

 41 
Sir James Matthew Barrie
10
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 9, 1860
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kirriemuir
Died: June 19, 1937

Sir James Matthew Barrie was a Scottish playwright and novelist. He is credited and remembered for creating the famous fictional character, Peter Pan. In the 1922 New Year Honours, Barrie was made a member of the Order of Merit. Before his death, he gifted the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children with the rights of his Peter Pan works.

 42 
Thomas Doherty
40
Birthdate: April 21, 1995
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Scotland
Scottish actor Thomas Doherty is best known as Sean Matthews from the Disney series The Lodge and as Harry Hook from the Descendants movie franchise. He will appear in the upcoming the HBO Max remake of Gossip Girl. Vogue named him one of the world’s 50 fittest boys in 2017.
 43 
Kenny Dalglish
(Scottish Former Football Player and Manager)
Kenny Dalglish
12
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 4, 1951
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Glasgow
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 44 
Iain Glen
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Dr. Alexander Isaacs’ in ‘Resident Evil’ Film Series)
Iain Glen
17
Birthdate: June 24, 1961
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Edinburgh
One of the British theatre's preeminent men, Iain Glen is best-known for featuring in Resident Evil film series and Game of Thrones. Though he has a catalogue of splendid work but his works flew under the radar. He bagged in a Silver Bear for Best Actor for his phenomenal performance in Silent Screen at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival.
 45 
Ian McDiarmid
(Best Known for His Villainous Role of 'Emperor Palpatine' from the 'Star Wars' Film Series)
Ian McDiarmid
9
Birthdate: August 11, 1944
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Carnoustie

Best known to fans as Emperor Palpatine or Darth Sidious in the Star Wars movie series, Scottish actor Ian McDiarmid also had a successful career in British theater. His performance as Teddy in the play Faith Healer won him a Tony Award, while he earned an Olivier Award for the play Insignificance.

 46 
Drew McIntyre
(Scottish Professional Wrestler)
Drew McIntyre
11
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 6, 1985
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ayr
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 47 
Colin McRae
(Scottish Rally Driver: The First British Driver to Win the World Rally Championship Drivers' Title)
Colin McRae
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 5, 1968
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Lanark
Died: September 15, 2007

Colin McRae was a British rally driver who won the British Rally Championship title in 1991 and 1992. In 1995, he became the youngest person and the first British driver to win the World Rally Championship Drivers' title. Colin McRae's career was cut short by his sudden demise in 2007 when he was killed in a helicopter crash. 

 48 
Graham McTavish
(Scottish Actor and Writer)
Graham McTavish
13
Birthdate: January 4, 1961
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Glasgow
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 49 
Rory McCann
(Scottish Actor Best Known for Portraying 'Sandor 'The Hound' Clegane' on the HBO Series 'Game of Thrones')
Rory McCann
11
Birthdate: April 24, 1969
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Glasgow

Best known for his role of The Hound in Game of Thrones and his Scottish BAFTA-winning performance as Kenny McLeod in The Book Group, Rory McCann often puts his towering 6’6” frame to good use in his acting projects. He is also a talented musician and once worked as a carpenter and gardener.

 50 
David Stirling
(Officer)
David Stirling
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 15, 1915
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Lecropt
Died: November 4, 1990

Scottish-born British Army officer David Stirling was known for his exploits in World War II, during which he formed and led the British Special Air Service (SAS). Following the war, he focused on combating racism in colonial Africa and even formed a foundation for animal conservation. He was knighted for his achievements.