Sugar, Slaves and High Society: the Grants of Kilgraston”, a talk by Richard Blake

The Society is delighted to present this talk by Richard P J Blake at 2.30 PM, Saturday 14th December, 2024. Please note that the venue will be at Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Haddington.

Richard Blake was brought up in Gifford, and, having read Law at Edinburgh University, practised as a rural law solicitor in Perth for 35 years. As a part-time, mature student, he was awarded a MSc in The Origins, History and Contemporary Impact of Globalisation from the University of Dundee. On retirement, he moved with his wife, Mary, to south-east Scotland. He is a Past President of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club, a Writer to His Majesty’s Signet and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Sugar, Slaves and High Society is, above all, a book about one Scottish family but it is also a story of opportunism, wealth, good fortune, and tragedies set against the background of slavery in Jamaica. Many of the defining moments and characters of the nineteenth century touched the Grants of Kilgraston: the Elgin marbles; the White Rajahs of Sarawak; Queen Victoria; Napoleon Bonaparte; the abolition of slavery; the Crimean War; the Relief of Lucknow; and the sacking of the Chinese Imperial Palace.
The Grants had close connections with East Lothian, including Archerfield, Biel and the golf courses at North Berwick, Muirfield and Gullane, while the last Grant of Kilgraston was an early President of the East Lothian Antiquarians and Field Naturalists’ Society.

For any enquiries contact: info@eastlothianantiquarians.org.uk
Non members welcome with a modest cash donation appreciated
Church parking is limited to Blue Badge holders plus otherwise mobility compromised
Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation No: SC0052295