To All: The following comes from "Edinburgh From Old Picture Postcards" by Andrew Cranshaw telling about the James Craig referred to in Kay's message. "By the mid 18th century Edinburgh was recognised as being evercrowded, with a poor record of hygiene and health. A major development was required. Lord Provost Geroge Drummond (1687-1766) proposed the building of an entirely New Town to the north of the Old Town. James Craig, 22 years old, virtually unknown architect, drew up a prize winning design which was accepted in 1766. In 1767 construction of the New Town began. The Nor'Loch was partially drained and foundations were laid for the first North Bridge. The foundation stone for the bridge was laid by Lord Provost Drummond in 1763." More information about James Craig is found in "The Making of Classical Edinburgh" by A. J. Youngson. "He was a son of William Craig, merchant, of Edinburgh, and Mary, younger daughter of The Rev. Thomas Thomson of Ednam in Roxurghshire, a sister of the poet Thomson who wrote 'The Seasons'. There are some grounds for believing that Craig's grandfather was Robert Craig, College Treasurer in 1702, Merchant Councillor from 1704 to 1705, Commissioner of Royal Burghs in 1714 and Dean of Guild in 1714 and 1715." Also from the same source: "The fact is that Craig suddenly leapt into prominence in 1767 when his plan for the New Town was accepted. He was young; overnight, almost, he became comparatively famous; and for a few years he seems to have been will employed." This information came from the Edinburgh library when we visited there in 1993. Bob Craig > I've just come back from Scotland, where I walked down the same streets in > Glasgow (Bridgeton) that my great-greats lived on in the 1850s-1880s. > Unfortunately, there were very few buildings remaining from that time. But > still, it was a thrill just to be there. > > In Edinburgh, I had my picture taken under the James Craig Walk sign, on a > little walkway off the main street. James Craig was my great-grandfather's > name, but I'm absolutely sure they never named a walkway in Edinburgh after > him, since he was not a person of any fame. Perhaps some one of you reading > this is related to the James Craig who was honored? > > Kay Gleason > great-granddaughter of James MacDougall Craig, son of Alexander Craig and Ann > Cunningham who married in Eastwood, Renfrew, Scotland, in 1849 >