Sorley MacLean, poet, died
Sorley MacLean 26 October 1911 – 24 November 1996) was a Scottish Gaelic poet, described by the Scottish Poetry Library as “one of the major Scottish poets of the modern era” because of his “mastery of his chosen medium and his engagement with the European poetic tradition and European politics”.
Stone of Destiny, which Scottish kings had been crowned, returned to Scotland
The Stone of Destiny, the ancient coronation stone on which generations of Scottish kings were crowned at Scone, was returned to Scotland after 700 years. Originally taken by King Edward I of England in 1296 and placed beneath the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey, it symbolized English domination over Scotland.
George Mackay Brown, poet and novelist, died.
George Mackay Brown (17 October 1921 – 13 April 1996) was a Scottish poet, author and dramatist with a distinctly Orcadian character. He is widely regarded as one of the great Scottish poets of the 20th century.
Sixteen primary school children and their teacher murdered in Dunblane
The Dunblane school massacre occurred on March 13, 1996, in Dunblane, Scotland. Thomas Hamilton, a 43-year-old former Scout leader, entered the Dunblane Primary School armed with four handguns. He made his way to the school’s gymnasium, where he opened fire on a class of Primary 1 students (aged 5 and 6) and their teachers, who were preparing for a physical education lesson.