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THE CALEDONIAN LECTURE ScotsinCatherine theGreat’s Russia Dr John Rogerson Admiral Samuel Greig A DOCTOR . AN ADMIRAL . AN ARCHITECT Charles Cameron, Architect Professor Anthony Cross FBA in delivering the <strong>2017</strong> Caledonian Lecture recounted the broad sweep of involvement and influence of Scots who had been drawn during Catherine’s reign to St Petersburg, the home of the Tsar’s court for 50 years. David Coughtrie reports Many Scottish names spilled forth for their achievements. However, the Lecture focused on three Scots who made their mark during the reign of Catherine the Great: Dr John Rogerson, Catherine’s personal physician with the rank of State Counsellor; Admiral Samuel Greig, responsible for the rebuilding of the Russian Navy and architect Charles Cameron, summoned to Russia by Catherine. Dr John Rogerson Arriving in Russia in 1766, Rogerson had a meteoric career becoming the court physician within three years and Catherine’s personal physician in 1976. He enjoyed a reputation, not only as a doctor but also as a man of wide learning, becoming the first Briton to be elected to the Russian Academy of Sciences. Wherever the Empress went, he went. He was well rewarded for his dedication including an estate near Minsk with 1,500 serfs that brought a handsome income. While he visited Scotland only three times during his sojourn away, he returned after 50 years’ service, buying and rebuilding Dumcrieff House in Dumfriesshire. Admiral Samuel Greig Professor Cross described Samuel Greig as a true hero. Born in Inverkeithing, he achieved much in Russian service, was a friend of Rogerson and highly esteemed by the Empress. Catherine was intent on reviving the fortunes of her navy, which she described as a ‘herring fleet’ and it was to Britain that she turned to recruit high quality officers, including Greig as a captain of the first rank. He served under Count Orlov in the great Russian victory over the Turks at the Battle of Chesme Bay and was hailed as a hero for his leadership and naval skills. Already a knight of St George and St Anna, he was promoted to vice-admiral and Commandant of Kronstadt. On his return to St Petersburg he was appointed a full Admiral and initiated major improvements to the Russian Baltic Fleet. He modernised the naval dockyard at Kronstadt, and produced a masterplan for its redevelopment. It was as supreme commander of the Russian naval fleet that Greig entered the war against Sweden that began in 1988 but was short lived. Soon after Greig died, not in battle but from fever. Catherine sent Rogerson to tend to him but it was too late. Such was her regard for Greig that she had a gold medal struck and a marble mausoleum erected in the Lutheran cathedral of Revel, now known as Tallinn. Charles Cameron, Architect Professor Cross referred to his third exemplar, as ‘of a rather different character and temperament from Greig’. Described as an elegant draughtsman and a fervent disciple of Palladianism, he was summoned to Russia by Catherine in 1779. He was to inspire near-rapturous admiration of his talents in the Empress, who was soon writing that he was not only a “great designer” but also a Jacobite, brought up in the household of the Pretender in Rome and a direct descendant of Cameron of Lochiel. Cameron was in fact a London Scot, son of a speculative builder. He probably never visited Scotland but was hailed, debatably, as ‘Russia’s most famous Scot’. It was the design of a single building that earned him that accolade, the Cameron Gallery added to the Catherine Palace at Tsarskoye Selo, and so named decades after his death. When it was finished, it is said that the Empress, holding Cameron by the arm, as they finished a tour of inspection, quipped: “it is indeed very handsome, mais ça coûte (but it’s not cheap)”. In Conclusion In many ways it is Cameron’s name that has lived on through the Gallery at Tsarkoye Selo. Rogerson’s name has slipped from history, despite his prominent position and long service in Russia. Admiral Greig is still revered by students of Russian military history. It is remarkable that during this period there was another Scotsman, John Paul Jones born in Kirkcudbright, and sometimes referred to as the ‘Father of the American Navy’, who also served in the Imperial Russian Navy, obtaining the rank of rear admiral. Perhaps the subject of another Lecture! The Lecturer Many authors have written about this period in Russian history and the contribution Scots made to the country’s development, but Professor Cross is acknowledged as the foremost expert in this field. Formerly Professor of Slavonic Studies at the University of Cambridge, he now lectures internationally. Guest of Honour His Excellency, Dr Alexander Yakovenko, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the UK gave the Vote of Thanks, noting the famous Russian poet, Mikhail Lermontov, who has Scottish origins, a direct descendant of a George Learmonth. His Excellency presented a copy of Lermontov’s famous book Demon, a masterpiece of European literature, translated into 13 languages, to the club. A full house awaits Ruth Anderson, Paul Miller & Sasha Painter Professor Anthony Cross, HE Dr Alexander Yakovenko, Hilary Reid Evans & Vice President David Coughtrie Donald & Lynda Lamont 16 The Caledonian WINTER <strong>2017</strong>
SOCIAL SCENE St Andrew’s Day Dinner LORD STRATHCLYDE: A SCOTSMAN ON SCOTLAND With our President, Lord Dalhousie presiding, the grace was said by the Reverend Dr George Whyte, Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Lord Dalhousie introduced our guest speaker, The Rt Hon The Lord Strathclyde CH PC who, though chairman of the Carlton Club, is a frequent visitor to the Caledonian, even holding a ‘significant’ birthday party here. The Toast was to Scotland and Lord Strathclyde, born in Glasgow and living in Mauchline was certainly well qualified to propose it. Lord Strathclyde entered the House of Lords in 1986 and served in various ministerial posts from 2010, before resigning in 2013 to pursue a career in business. In toasting Scotland, he spoke of our indestructible spirit; of how, in over 400 years in the UK, we had kept our identity. He spoke also of St Andrew, whose philosophy could be summed up as “Take what you have and share it.” As a company, we certainly shared a great evening, with over 120 members and guests enjoying haggis and the chef ’s roast fillet of beef and bread and butter pudding. Until 2010, the St Andrew’s Day Dinner was men only and it was encouraging to see so many ladies present. Chairman of the Caledonian Club, David Guild proposed the Vote of Thanks to Lord Strathclyde and all those members and staff who had worked to make the evening such a success. Photographs by Monica Wells WINTER 2016 The Caledonian 17
Page 1 and 2: The WINTER 2017 The Official Journa
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Caledonian The PRESIDENT T
Page 5 and 6: CLUB NEWS MEMBERSHIP REPORT: 100 ye
Page 7 and 8: COMMON GOOD FUND JOHN STEWART-MURRA
Page 9 and 10: WILLIAM MCMAHON MBE, FRICS Chairman
Page 11 and 12: MEMBER SPOTLIGHT At the post-race p
Page 13 and 14: SOCIAL SCENE Summer Sizzle THE SUN
Page 15: CLUB CENTENARY WINTER 2017 The Cale
Page 19 and 20: THE CLUB AS A VENUE All work and pl
Page 21 and 22: SOCIETY REPORTS YOUNGER MEMBERS’
Page 23 and 24: SOCIETY REPORTS MUSIC SOCIETY Piano
Page 25 and 26: CLUB CONNECTIONS Both the Caledonia
Page 27 and 28: THE CALEDONIAN SOCIETY OF LONDON Wi

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