Events from the year 1751 in Scotland.

Incumbents

Law officers

* Lord Advocate – William Grant, Lord Prestongrange, William Grant of Prestongrange * Solicitor General for Scotland – Patrick Haldane of Gleneagles, jointly with Alexander Hume

Judiciary

* Lord President of the Court of Session – Robert Dundas of Arniston, the elder, Lord Arniston the Elder * Lord Justice General – Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll, Lord Ilay * Lord Justice Clerk – Charles Erskine, Lord Tinwald, Lord Tinwald

Events

* 24 April – John Wesley arrives at Musselburgh, his destination on his first mission to Scotland. * 21 June – Alexander Geddes from Kinnermony, Banffshire, is executed at Aberdeen for bestiality, becoming the last felon in Scotland to be burnt following execution. * 1 July – 26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot, The Cameronians, at this time serving in Ireland, are formally ranked as the 26th Regiment of Foot. * David Hume settles in Edinburgh and publishes ''An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals''. * In the University of Glasgow: ** Adam Smith is appointed professor of logic. ** The University of Glasgow Medical School, Medical School is founded. * John Smith & Son bookshop in Glasgow established, claiming to be the oldest surviving bookseller in the English-speaking world. * Peterculter, Culter paper mill established. * First turnpike act for Scotland, for improvement of the road from Edinburgh to South Queensferry. * Approximate date – bridge built at Bridge of Orchy.

Births

* 23 April – Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto, Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, colonial administrator (died 1814 in England) * 3 or 29 June – William Roxburgh, surgeon and botanist, "father of Indian botany" (died 1815 in Scotland, 1815) * 2 August – William Adam of Blair Adam, judge and politician (died 1839 in Scotland, 1839) * 8 August – William Leslie (British Army officer), William Leslie, British Army officer (killed 1777 at Battle of Princeton) * 10 December – James Donaldson (publisher), James Donaldson, printer, newspaper publisher and philanthropist (died 1830 in Scotland, 1830) * Donald Campbell (traveller), Donald Campbell, traveler in India and the Middle East (died 1804 in England) * Approximate date – Helen Craik, novelist and poet (died 1825 in England)

Deaths

* 16 February – Charles Maitland (MP), Charles Maitland, politician (born c. 1704 in Scotland, 1704) * 18 February – Patrick Campbell (1684–1751), Patrick Campbell, politician (born 1684 in Scotland, 1684) * 24 May – William Hamilton (comic poet), William Hamilton, comic poet (born c. 1665 in Scotland, 1665) * 22 August (2 September Old Style and New Style dates, NS) – Andrew Gordon (Benedictine), Andrew Gordon, Benedictine and inventor (born 1712 in Scotland, 1712; died in Saxony) * September – David Fordyce, philosopher (born 1711 in Scotland, 1711; lost at sea)

The arts

* Alasdair mac Mhaighstir Alasdair publishes his anti-Hanoverian volume of poems ''Ais-Eiridh na Sean Chánoin Albannaich'' ("The Resurrection of the Ancient Scottish Language") in Edinburgh, including his satire on the aisling form ''An Airce'' ("The Ark"). * Tobias Smollett's novel ''The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle'' is published. *Robert Louis Stevenson's book "Kidnapped (novel), Kidnapped" is based in 1751.

References

{{Years in Scotland , state=collapsed 1751 in Scotland, Years of the 18th century in Scotland 1751 in Great Britain, Scotland 1750s in Scotland