June 7 in Scottish History

On 7 June 1868 Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the celebrated architect, painter and designer, was born. Regarded as one of the foremost British figures in the art nouveau movement, and as the principal exponent of the 'Glasgow Style', Mackintosh was born in the Townhead area of the city. Famous for his fusion of traditional Scottish forms and simple Japanese styles, Mackintosh attended the city's art school, later winning the commission to redesign the building. Some of his other notable works include the Willow tea rooms and the Hill House in Helensburgh, although he is equally renowned for his furniture designs, in particular his famous high-backed chairs.

On this day in 1329 Robert the Bruce died at Cardross Castle in Dunbartonshire. The cause of his death remains unclear, but there is a suspicion that Bruce suffered from leprosy for a long period and that this is what killed him in the end. He was buried in Dunfermline Abbey ,and in 1819 his tomb was discovered and opened. Bruce had always wanted to take part in the Crusades, and in death he got his wish. Bruce's right hand man, the Black Douglas, took his embalmed heart to Spain to fight the Moors. After Douglas's death, the cask containing the heart was returned to Melrose Abbey.

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