March 18 in Scottish History

On 18 March 1286, Alexander III, King of Scots, set off on the journey that led to him being killed accidentally at Kinghorn, Fife. The last of the MacAlpine dynasty and the Celtic line of Scottish Kings, his reign was known as "The Golden Age". His successor, Margaret, known as the 'Maid of Norway', died on her way home from Norway to claim the throne. Margaret's premature death precipitated the disastrous involvement of Edward I of England in Scotland's affairs.

Today in 1689, the King's Own Scottish Borderers were raised in Edinburgh by David Leslie, 3rd Earl of Leven. The regiment was popular from the start and it was reported that 800 men were recruited within the space of 2 hours. The regiment first saw action at the Battle of Killiecrankie on July 27th of that year and, although the Jacobite rebels forced the Government army to retreat, Leven’s new Regiment acquitted itself well, and was granted the privilege of recruiting by beat of drum within the City of Edinburgh without the prior permission of the Lord Provost.

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