A former president of East Kilbride Probus Club enlightened members about the 'creator of Scottish democracy' at their latest meeting.
President Jim Ballantyne opened the meeting and carried out of the club business and introduced the speaker Allan Stevenson, who was president during 2017 and 2018.
As a very enthusiastic Burns man, he came across the name of Thomas Muir as he was around at the same time as Robert burns, who probably knew him as well.
Thomas Muir was born on in 1765 and died in 1799 and was also known as Thomas Muir the Younger of Huntershill and was a Scottish political reformer and lawyer.
Muir graduated from Edinburgh University and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1787, aged 22.
He was a leader of the Society of the Friends of the People and was the most important of the group of two Scotsmen and three Englishmen on the Political Martyrs’ Monument in Calton Cemetery Edinburgh.
In 1793 they were sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay Australia for sedition.
Two years later in 1796, Muir dramatically escaped from Botany Bay on the American ship the Otter for America.
After a voyage across the uncharted Pacific Ocean, the Otter reached Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island in June 1796.
The diaries of the first mate Pierre François Péron describe Muir’s escape and voyage across the Pacific as far as Monterey, California.
From there Muir travelled to Mexico City where he asked to be allowed to travel to California.
He was imprisoned in Havana, Cuba and taken by Spanish ship to Cádiz, Spain.
Here his ship encountered British war ships and in the fighting Muir’s face was badly injured. In September 1797, the Spanish Government released Muir.
Weak from his wounds, Muir made his way to France by way of Madrid aided by a French officer.
In November 1797, he arrived exhausted at Bordeaux, where he was hailed as a 'Hero of the French Republic' and he travelled to Paris.
Muir’s confidant was Dr Robert Watson of Elgin, emissary to France on behalf of the United Englishmen and it was then Muir learned of the United Scotsmen, which replaced the Friends of the People.
In November 1798, Muir moved secretly to Île-de-France village of Chantilly to await the arrival of Scots compatriots.
There on January 26, 1799 he died, suddenly and alone.
Shortly before his death, he said: “We have achieved a great duty in these critical times. After the destruction of so many years, we have been the first to revive the spirit of our country and give it a National Existence."
The vote of thanks was given by Eddie Holmes who said that it had been a most interesting talk and admired the amount of research that Allan had undertaken to flesh out the history of Thomas Muir.
The next meeting will be on the January 18 with a presentation on ‘Franklin’s legs - The story of Eleanor Roosevelt' from Ms Liz MacIntyre Allen.
To find out more about the club contact secretary, Eddie Holmes on 01355 234 942 or go to the website.
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