3 Albany Street

1894 – 1902 Thomas McNaught

Outside of his legal work, Thomas McNaught (photo c. 1900) acted at different times as Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer of the Scottish Home Rule Association (SHRA). Set up in 1886 soon after William Gladstone had introduced an Irish Home Rule Bill into the House of Commons, the Association campaigned for a Scottish Parliament to be established in Edinburgh. Many in Scotland felt betrayed that there was no equivalent Home Rule Bill for Scotland, as they believed the Scots had more entitlement given the country’s loyalty to the Crown, unlike the Irish who were being rewarded for just the opposite. However, there were many critics of the SHRA and the dismissive view of its work in the Dundee Courier was not uncommon: ‘We are by no means a down-trodden race ... we have generally got what we wished.’ In 1888 McNaught, now titled the Honorary Colonial Secretary of the SHRA, set off on a tour of America and Canada to raise funds to fight the cause. At a meeting in San Francisco McNaught argued the case: ’The Kingdom of Scotland although its population does not exceed that of London, has within its bounds a much greater variety of physical, moral and religious aspects than is possessed by England. There is hardly anything upon which we do not differ—in land, law, education, and everything else we have an altogether different system from the English system. Why should we be governed then, by people who are in no way connected with us? Scottish bills in Parliament, when not in accordance with English principles, were always rejected. And this was so even in the case of relief for suffering crofters. The Irish peasant is in a state of opulence in comparison with the Highland crofters. The fight will be hard, it will be long, but we will be successful and Scotland’s history will be as proud as it was.’ The newspaper account of the meeting reported: ‘The speaker was frequently applauded, and his hearers gave way to cheers when he predicted that the Parliament in Scotland lost in the eighteenth century would be restored.’

The Halycon Sanatorium (photo) was a great success and advertised itself as ‘the most complete resort on the continent of North America. Situated midst scenery unrivalled for grandeur. Boating, fishing and excursions. Resident physician and nurse. In telegraphic communication with all parts of the world. Its baths cure all nervous and muscular diseases. Its waters are a sure remedy against all argentiferous poisons. Terms $12 to $15 a week.’ Thomas clearly was successful in his new career as a newspaper reported him to be: 'the enterprising manager of the Halcyon Hot Springs sanatorium.’ In 1902, Thomas and Mary married in Winnipeg and the newspaper account reported: ‘The bride wore a tailor made cream basket cloth, with revers of tucked silk and blouse of lace insertion.’ The wedding reception was held at the house of Thomas’s sister where: ‘from the centre of every room was suspended a perfect bell of pure white sweet peas.’ Following the wedding the newly married couple took the train to Halycon.

Then in 1906 Thomas and Mary returned to Scotland. Perhaps McNaught was seriously ill, and wished to end his life in Scotland, as he died at the home of his brother in Kirkmichael, Dumfries soon after their return. Mary took up teaching again in Lancashire until her own death in 1913.

Thus both were spared the negative impact of the First World War on their respective passions. Home Rule for Scotland was brought up 13 times in the House of Commons between 1890 and 1913 without success. However, in 1913, a Bill giving Home Rule for Scotland looked all set to be put into law, but was abandoned due to the outbreak of war. It would be over eighty years before the Scottish Parliament McNaught had worked for, was finally re-established. Also the War ended any hopes of global peace and the Peace Society's failure to condemn the outbreak of the war resulted in internal divisions.

1907 – 1911 Edinburgh Chess Club The Edinburgh Chess Club (photo c 1910) was established in 1822, its first meeting taking place in the North British Hotel in Princes Street. Within two years it had a membership of fifty. Early cash book entries mention the purchase of candles and payment to the sedan chairmen for the transport of chess pieces. In those days chess was largely a game for gentlemen, and there were many representatives of the professions and the military amongst the early membership lists. Entry fees were £3 3s and subscriptions £1 1s. Within only two years of being established, the Edinburgh Club audaciously challenged the established London Chess Club to a correspondence match. The challenge was regarded as being something of an impertinence by the London Club who expected a decisive victory for they had far more experienced players, led by the top English player of the day, William Lewis. Three games were to be played with any drawn games being restarted, and two games would be in play at any one time. The losers were to present the winners with a silver cup to the value of £25. The moves were published in a number of newspapers and drew considerable public attention, and not a little controversy as in one of the games the London club attempted to retract a poor move in a critical position, even applying unsuccessfully to the Postmaster for the return of the letter. The Postmaster having refused, the Edinburgh club took the stance that a move once posted was the equivalent of a piece having been released and the move thus completed, and the game was eventually won by Edinburgh. Such was the passion generated that there were still heated letters being written to the chess journals on the subject in 1850. Needless to say the two clubs' versions of events differed somewhat in the match books produced afterwards. The match went on for four years, during which time five games were played with two drawn games, two won by Edinburgh, and one by London. As the winners, Edinburgh took possession of the promised trophy which was promptly christened the Scot's Gambit Cup, and which still holds pride of place in the Club’s trophy cabinet today.

By the 1880s, the club was an important part of Edinburgh society and over the years had many homes in the city – including Princes Street, George Street, Queen Street, St Andrews Square, York Place, and Hanover Street, as well as Albany Street - until in 1922 a legacy and donations from members enabled the Chess Club to buy premises in Alva St where it still meets.

1914 – 1916 Office of James McKie Thomson

James Thomson was a solicitor (SSC). He was also the secretary of the Edinburgh Bowling Club. He moved his chambers to York Place.

1922 – 1933 Office of Robert Logan Robert Logan was a tea merchant and owned the Corramore Tea Plantation in Assam, situated near Brahmaputra in the Mangaldai area of the District of Darrang (shown on this map). His father, of the same name, bought the estate in 1863, which later was acquired by Williamson Tea. Logan died in 1933.