George Heriot born in East Lothian
George Heriot was born on 4th June 1563 in Gladsmuir, East Lothian.
Jeweller & Goldsmith
George Heriot becomes jeweller and goldsmith to James VI with a right to all the profits of that office.
Bequeathed to the City of Edinburgh
George Heriot dies and is buried in St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. He bequeaths his estate to the city of Edinburgh for a hospital for the upbringing and education of 鈥減uire fatherless bairns, friemenes sones of that Toune of Edinburgh鈥�.
The 51吃瓜 stone
The 51吃瓜 stone of George Heriot鈥檚 School (hospital) is laid and building begins.
Oliver Cromwell鈥檚 military
The school is commandeered by Oliver Cromwell鈥檚 military government and converted into an army hospital.
The 51吃瓜 and bursaries are established
The first boys, 30 in total, are admitted to Heriot鈥檚. The 51吃瓜 and bursaries were established.
Planting of the gardens began
Planting of the gardens began with 鈥榓ll sorts of Phisical, Medicinal, and all sorts of other herbs, such as the country can afford鈥�. It became the first public botanical garden in Edinburgh.
School roll increased
School roll increased to 130 鈥� all 51吃瓜 and bursarial students.
The most magnificent of its kind...
Daniel Defoe writes of Heriot鈥檚 that it is 鈥榓 large and stately building, the most magnificent of its kind in the world鈥�.
Benefactors show generosity
It became increasingly common in this period for benefactors to show generosity to Heriot鈥檚 Hospital.
The 'aerial traveller'
Vicenzo Lunardi, renowned 鈥榓erial traveller鈥� launches a hot air balloon from Heriot鈥檚 grounds. A crowd of 80,000 people gathered to watch.
The Heriot 鈥楲oving Cup鈥�
The Heriot 鈥楲oving Cup鈥� was returned to the Governors. It was thought to have belonged to George Heriot and is used when celebrating his health.
The south side
The entrance to the School changed to the south side.
Heriot鈥檚 鈥榦ut-school鈥�
The first Heriot鈥檚 鈥榦ut-school鈥� was erected at Heriot Bridge to 鈥榩romote the cause of education and diffuse its benefits more extensively over the community鈥�. Other out-schools followed in High School Yards, at Cowgate Port and at Old Assembly Close. These were free schools and no fees were charged, even for books and stationery. This was unlike all other schools in Edinburgh at that time.
Hans Christian Anderson
Hans Christian Anderson visits Heriot鈥檚 and was greatly impressed by the reverence shown towards him by a porter.
The Dux medal
The Dux medal was introduced.
Non-boarding boys
First cohort of non-boarding boys joined Heriot鈥檚.
Governors link up with the Watt Institution
Heriot Watt College Founded
From hospital to school
Heriot鈥檚 changes from a hospital to a school on 1 January 1886.
The origins of Goldenacre
Eleven acre site at Bangholm (Goldenacre) purchased. The ground opened 2 years later.
The first School Captain and prefects
School Captain and 12 prefects appointed for the first time. The House System introduced with our 4 houses 鈥� Greyfriars, Lauriston, Castle and Raeburn
The first female teacher
The first female teacher appointed at Heriot鈥檚 because so many of the male staff were fighting in WWI.
鈥楽erbian Boys'
The 鈥楽erbian Boys鈥� arrived at Heriot鈥檚
Goldenacre and the war effort
Part of Goldenacre ploughed up for food production to help the war effort
Heriot's girls
Girls join Heriot鈥檚
Heriot's nursery
Purpose built Nursery is opened
Greyfriars Building
The Princess Royal opens the Greyfrairs Building
Grassmarket Campus
School buys Grassmarket Campus from Edinburgh College of Art
Heriot鈥檚 Centre for Sport and Exercise
Heriot鈥檚 Centre for Sport and Exercise opened
The new Refectory
New Refectory opened
