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62-499: Syme was born at North Berwick in Scotland, the youngest of the seven children and fourth son of George Alexander Syme (18?–1845), a parish schoolmaster. Syme's wife, David's mother, was Jean née Mitchell. George Syme was a radical in church and state, his income was comfortable yet moderate, but it was stretched to provide for his large family and send three of his sons to universities (which he successfully did, while providing David with

124-470: A "cautious liberal." He served as Commissioner of Trade and Customs 1857–58 under William Haines and as Treasurer 27 October 1859 to 26 November 1860 under William Nicholson . When John O'Shanassy 's conservative government resigned in June 1863 McCulloch became Premier and Chief Secretary for the first time. He was also Postmaster-General of Victoria 9 May 1864 to 6 May 1868. McCulloch's liberal government

186-617: A Tuath ) is a seaside town and former royal burgh in East Lothian , Scotland . It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth , approximately 20 miles (32 km) east-northeast of Edinburgh . North Berwick became a fashionable holiday resort in the nineteenth century because of its two sandy bays, the East (or Milsey) Bay and the West Bay, and continues to attract holidaymakers. Golf courses at

248-515: A badly provisioned vessel and arrived at Sydney in a half-starved condition. Syme took the first steamer for Melbourne and walked to Castlemaine . Syme had some success there and at the Bendigo , Wangaratta , Ballarat and Beechworth diggings. In 1855, at Mount Egerton , Syme and his partner almost obtained a fortune, but their claim, which afterwards became very valuable, was jumped by other men and they were unable to obtain recompense. Towards

310-532: A bill to create a system of free, secular government schools, but the Catholics and Anglicans joined forces to block it. McCulloch grew increasingly conservative after 1870 and in 1875 he had a political falling out with Higinbotham. Tired and disillusioned, he resigned from Parliament in 1878. After politics, McCulloch focussed on business life, he had several directorships including the Bank of New South Wales . McCulloch

372-614: A conference between the two Houses broke down, McCulloch called an election in February 1866, at which his supporters won a large majority in the Assembly. When the Council again rejected his tariff bill, he resigned, leaving the Governor, Charles Darling , unable to find anyone else who could form a government. Finally, after prolonged negotiations, McCulloch agreed to resume office and the Council passed

434-407: A day made success possible. The original policies of The Age included manhood suffrage, the opening of the lands for selection by the people, no compensation for the squatters, and compulsory, free and secular education. When protection was added to the program great opposition was raised. Opponents felt that these policies would greatly harm the colony. The opposition to The Age was carried even to

496-578: A government which did not have a majority in the Assembly. This negation of democracy provoked widespread protests and produced a dangerous situation, which was resolved only in July when the Colonial Office changed its mind about Darling's pension and the Council agreed to a moderate reform bill broadening its electoral base. McCulloch resumed office, but without Higinbotham, who disapproved of this compromise. McCulloch remained in office until September 1869, and

558-452: A modified tariff bill and granted supply. Both sides claimed victory, but most of the concessions were made by the Council. In 1867 another crisis blew up when the Council again rejected the government's budget because it contained a clause granting a pension to the retiring Governor Darling, which conservatives said was a payment for his collusion in McCulloch's unorthodox methods of financing

620-675: A primary education and as a young man worked in shops, eventually becoming a junior partner in a softgoods firm. On 11 May 1853 McCulloch arrived in Melbourne aboard the Adelaide ( John Everard being a fellow passenger) to manage the mercantile firm of Dennistoun Brothers in Melbourne. Following closure of the Dennistoun office in 1861, James McCulloch started his own business McCulloch, Sellar and Company in partnership with fellow Scot Robert Sellar . In

682-518: A relentlessly demanding education himself.) David Syme's childhood was one of study with little companionship with other boys of his own age. George Syme was not physically unkind to his sons, but Syme would write later: "It was difficult to understand my father's attitude to we boys. He had naturally a kind disposition; he was a devoted husband, and no-one ever asked him for help that he did not freely give … but his affection for us never found expression in words". Syme married Annabella Garnett-Johnson, of

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744-481: A result, the development of irrigation began which after some early failures was to be successfully extended in later years. Syme also supported early closing, anti-sweatshop legislation, and old-age pensions. When the issue of Federation became important towards the end of the century it was Deakin, a journalistic protégé of Syme's, who became the leader of the movement in Victoria. The ten Victorian delegates elected to

806-446: A series of articles alleging bad management and incompetence on the part of the railway commissioners. This led at last to an action for libel being brought against The Age by the chief commissioner, Richard Speight . Other articles attacked the civil service generally. At the first trial of the railway libel case begun on 1 June 1893 the jury disagreed, and the second trial which began on 17 April 1894 and lasted for 105 days resulted in

868-605: A subsidiary company run by Lothian Buses, runs a twice-hourly service between Edinburgh (Semple Street) to North Berwick Tesco via Portobello, Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Longniddry, Aberlady, Gullane and Dirleton. The bus in North Berwick runs on a loop from the High Street (Church Street bus stop) to the Tesco Terminus and back, then returns to Edinburgh. There are also local services to Haddington , Dunbar and attractions such as

930-686: A verdict for the defendant on nine out of the ten counts, and on the tenth count the damages were assessed at one farthing. Speight, however, was ruined and Syme had to pay his own costs which amounted to about £50,000. As an example of the power some felt was exercised by Syme at this time, the leading counsel for the plaintiff, when addressing the jury, stated that "no government could stand against The Age without being shaken to its centre". Syme had early realised that agriculture would need development in Victoria and twice sent J. L. Dew to America to study irrigation and agricultural methods. Syme also sent Alfred Deakin to India to report on irrigation there. As

992-531: Is an occasional service through to Glasgow Central station on weekdays, although anyone heading for central Glasgow is advised to switch to the Edinburgh – Glasgow Queen St. service. There is a regular bus service (nos 124 and X24 ) between the town and Edinburgh city centre. Edinburgh Airport is the nearest airport, not just to North Berwick but the whole county, and is approximately a 45-minute drive away, or around 1 hour 20 mins by public transport. East Coast Buses,

1054-494: Is buried at Boroondara General Cemetery . Syme authored the book On the Modification of Organisms (1890) which aimed to disprove the theory of natural selection . Syme was not a creationist, he accepted the fact of evolution, but rejected Darwinism . Syme was an advocate of what he termed "cellular intelligence". He believed that the cell is a biological unit and a "vital entity" which could drive organic modifications. He held

1116-496: Is largely a vindication of protection and is also a plea for the extension of the activities of the state. Next appeared Representative Government in England ... , a study of the history of parliament in England. His next book On the Modification of Organisms (Melbourne, 1890), is a criticism of Darwin 's theory of natural selection from an evolutionist position. Syme's last volume, The Soul: A Study and an Argument (1903), discusses

1178-506: Is served by North Berwick railway station . The North Berwick Line has provided a rail link with Edinburgh since 17 June 1850 and the line, now operated by ScotRail , is still the principal transit link between the town and the capital. The service takes 33 minutes and runs hourly with extra trains during peak commuting periods and on Saturdays. Combination rail-and-entry tickets for the Scottish Seabird Centre are available. There

1240-509: Is set locally. The Scottish author William Dalrymple (born 1965), whose work primarily focuses on British India , has roots in the town, with his family having once owned much of the area. William's father Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple is the current and 10th Baronet of North Berwick. William is the youngest of four brothers. Since 1999, North Berwick has been twinned with Kerteminde , Denmark . James McCulloch Sir James McCulloch , KCMG (18 March 1819 – 31 January 1893)

1302-478: The Nature journal, stating that Syme had misrepresented Darwin's theory. Wallace concluded that "Mr. Syme has a considerable reputation in other departments of literature as a powerful writer and acute critic; but he has entirely mistaken his vocation in this feeble and almost puerile attempt to overthrow the vast edifice of fact and theory raised by the genius and the life-long labours of Darwin." Responding to Wallace in

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1364-513: The Age to Fairfax in 1983. The Syme family controlled the newspaper outright for 127 years, from 1856 to 1983. David Syme received no honours, having declined a knighthood in 1900. A knighthood for services to journalism and the Commonwealth was later presented to David Syme's son, Geoffrey in 1941. North Berwick North Berwick ( / ˈ b ɛ r ɪ k / ; Scottish Gaelic : Bearaig

1426-503: The Bass Rock castle ) erected a stone tower with a barmkin on the site; however they had abandoned it by 1420 in favour of the Bass, possibly as a result of conflict with the owners of nearby Tantallon Castle. In the fourteenth century the town became a baronial burgh under William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas , who then built nearby Tantallon Castle to consolidate his power. Later, during

1488-528: The Church of Scotland . Syme studied under James Morison at Kilmarnock for two years, attended some classes at Heidelberg and returned to Scotland obtaining a position about 1850 as a proofreader's assistant on a Glasgow newspaper. With low pay and little prospect of advancement, he sailed for San Francisco by way of Cape Horn in 1851 and arrived after a voyage of five months to search for gold but had little success. Early in 1852 Syme sailed for Australia in

1550-494: The National Museum of Flight at East Fortune. Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) spent many holidays in the town during his childhood and as a young man. His father, Thomas Stevenson the engineer and lighthouse builder, took his family to stay in various locations in the town. The island of Fidra is said to be the original inspiration for Treasure Island , and much of his novel Catriona (the sequel to Kidnapped )

1612-483: The Nature journal, Syme denied misrepresenting Darwin on natural selection. The Dictionary of National Biography noted that Syme's book The Soul: A Study and an Argument (1903) "attacked both materialism and the current argument for design and described Syme's own belief as a kind of pantheistic teleology." Syme wrote several books while owner of The Age : the first, Outlines of an Industrial Science , (London, 1876)

1674-821: The 1897 Federal Convention were the ten on the Age 'ticket'. During the first federal parliament Syme fought for comparatively high protective duties, but his influence did not extend to any great extent beyond Victoria and he was for the time unsuccessful. In later years, however, considerable increases in duties were made. In the last years of his life Syme wrote about the faults of party government. Some of these he had drawn attention to in chapter VII of his Representative Government in England ... (London, 1881). His suggested remedies have failed, however, to obtain much support. Syme died at his home Blythswood in Kew near Melbourne on 14 February 1908. In 1859 he had married Annabella Johnson, who survived him with five sons and two daughters. Syme

1736-452: The High Street was the main street in the medieval burgh, rather than Quality Street that had been hypothesized. Excavations have shown that from as early as the eighth century, a ferry crossing to Earlsferry , near Elie in Fife was in existence, serving pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Saint Andrew . North Berwick Harbour was built in the twelfth century to meet the demands made of

1798-534: The Lancashire Garnett family of Waddow Hall , Clitheroe, England. Annabella was connected through her Garnett relations to William Garnett . David Syme was 17 years old when his father died, and he continued his classical studies with some doubt to his future. He had thoughts of qualifying for the ministry but revolted from the Calvinistic teaching of the day; his brothers George and Ebenezer had renounced

1860-499: The MSP for East Lothian since 2021 . There are three councillors for North Berwick Coastal. There are several churches in the town. These include: North Berwick is served by Law Primary School, and North Berwick High School for secondary school-age children, which has an excellent reputation, frequently outperforming other East Lothian district schools in annual examination tables. Films which have shots of North Berwick include: The town

1922-456: The area in the form of several Iron Age Cist burials. One of the largest excavations occurred when many of the water mains in the town were replaced in the 2000s and archaeologists monitored the work. These excavations found the first evidence of the city walls - all towns of Scotland on the east coast were required by an Act of Parliament (1503) to build walls, but until then there was no evidence that they were ever built. It also found that

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1984-969: The boom conditions following the Victorian Gold Rush , he soon became a wealthy man and a director of several banks and other companies. He was President of the Chamber of Commerce 1856–1857 and 1862–1863. McCulloch was appointed a member of the Legislative Council on 1 August 1854, replacing Andrew Aldcorn . When Victoria gained responsible government in 1856, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly for Wimmera , which he represented from November 1856 to around August 1859, when he shifted to East Melbourne from October 1859. He later represented Mornington from March 1862 to around March 1872 and Warrnambool from May 1874 to around May 1878. The historian Raymond Wright describes McCulloch as

2046-505: The colony. Constitutional difficulties continued for some time, but at last the Legislative Council was reformed, by increasing the number of eligible voters and by other changes in its constitution to make it more democratic. Syme had supported Berry in the fight for protection and during the constitutional struggle but was not satisfied with him as an administrator. Although opposed to James Service , Syme recognised that Service had

2108-450: The end of 1855 Syme returned to Melbourne and became a road contractor. Syme's brother, Ebenezer, was editing The Age newspaper and when it was threatened with failure bought it for £2000 in June 1856. David Syme, who had saved some money while on the diggings, joined his brother as partner in The Age on 27 September 1856. The paper struggled on for 18 months, when finding it could not support

2170-568: The ends of each bay are open to visitors. The name Berwick means "barley farmstead" ( bere in Old English means "barley" and wic means "farmstead"). Alternatively, like other place names in Scotland ending in 'wick', this word means 'bay' (Old Norse: vík). The word North was applied to distinguish this Berwick from Berwick-upon-Tweed , which throughout the Middle Ages the Scots called South Berwick. It

2232-568: The existing ferry trade. This ferry was recently reinstated; during the summer, a boat travels between North Berwick and Anstruther in Fife, in homage to the original ferry. Around 1150, Duncan, Earl of Fife of the Clan MacDuff founded an influential Cistercian nunnery (whose power continued until the Scottish Reformation , and its dissolution in 1588). Duncan's family shortly afterwards, at

2294-680: The extent of boycotting its advertising. Various abortive amending land acts became law between 1860 and 1869, but in the latter year an act was passed which embodied most of the principles for which Syme had fought. A tremendous flow of population came into Victoria between 1850 and 1860 due to the Victorian gold rush and towards the end of the decade there was some unemployment. Syme felt that manufacturing industries should be established in Victoria and that this could only be done by bringing in trade protection. Syme persuaded able men like Sir James McCulloch and Sir Graham Berry and protectionism became

2356-621: The fifteenth century, the town became a royal burgh in the reign of James I of Scotland . The "Auld Kirk Green" at the harbour was allegedly used for gatherings by the accused in the North Berwick Witch Trials (1590–92). Legend has it that Satan himself attended a ritual there in 1590. During the sixteenth century at least 70 people were implicated in the Witch Trials, and the events inspired works such as Burns' "Tam o' Shanter" and "The Thirteenth Member" by Mollie Hunter . One of

2418-624: The government. McCulloch called another election for February 1868, which he won comfortably. But in May word came that the Colonial Secretary in London, the Duke of Buckingham , had instructed the new Governor, Sir John Manners-Sutton , to support the Council in blocking the grant to Darling. McCulloch at once resigned, and the Governor commissioned a conservative member of the Council, Charles Sladen , to form

2480-541: The jawbone arch first erected atop the Law in 1709, suggest that the port was involved in the whaling industry, though there is little written evidence to prove it. If so, it would have been a minor participant in the industry, overshadowed by nearby Leith . Certainly, whales have washed ashore at North Berwick over the years, even in recent times. Despite the railway arriving in 1850, the Industrial Revolution bypassed

2542-403: The land. Syme was hailed on his death as "one of the greatest men in colonial history" by his friend, then Prime Minister Alfred Deakin. The Age remained in family hands after Syme's death. It was headed by Sir Geoffrey Syme from 1908 to 1942 and Oswald Syme from 1942 to 1964 before eventually being passed to Ranald McDonald , David Syme's great-grandson, (Oswald Syme's grandson) who sold

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2604-474: The most famous witch trials at North Berwick was that of Agnes Sampson . She was accused of making a potion to create rough storms in the North Sea as King James VI was sailing home from Denmark with his new wife, Anne of Denmark . The trial took place in 1591, attended by King James. Agnes Sampson was tortured to confess, and then burnt at the stake, like many other innocent people. Local lore, place names, and

2666-747: The nature of life, instinct, memory, mind, and survival after death. Syme also involved himself in philanthropic activities; he paid the expenses of a rifle team to Bisley, Surrey and financed expeditions to New Guinea and Central Australia . In 1904 he gave £3000 (equivalent to $ 530,000 in 2022) to the University of Melbourne to endow the Syme Prize for research in biology, chemistry, geology and natural philosophy. The introduction of linotype machines threw many of Syme's compositers out of work; he ensured that they were provided for. The older men were pensioned off and others were set up in business or placed on

2728-452: The settled economic policy of the colony; consequently many factories were established. Syme was a driving force for the introduction of such policies, which accompanied a great increase in economic activity. As a comparison, the neighbouring colony of New South Wales retained a policy which was practically free trade for most of the period before federation and appears to have been as steadily prosperous as Victoria. Protectionism in Victoria

2790-618: The start of the thirteenth century built North Berwick Castle erecting a wooden motte and bailey on the site of what is now Castle Hill in the east end of the town, at the start of Tantallon Terrace. This castle was attacked and held by the Earl of Pembroke around 1306; the English abandoned it by 1314, during the aftermath of the Battle of Bannockburn . Late in the fourteenth century the Lauder family (owners of

2852-402: The town. The late-nineteenth century saw North Berwick develop golfing and holiday facilities. The town soon became popular as a home for Edinburgh commuters and retirees. The size and population of the town remained fairly steady until the 1970s, at which point housebuilding began in earnest around the periphery of the town, first to the south (1950s–70s), then in a series of major expansions to

2914-404: The two proprietors David obtained other employment. Ebenezer retired in 1859 and David, with some reluctance, returned to the business. On 13 March 1860 Ebenezer died, and finding it was difficult to sell The Age , Syme decided to abandon his contracting and carry on the paper. The task of running the newspaper was a difficult one, and only the fact that the proprietor was willing to work 15 hours

2976-433: The very qualities Berry lacked. Syme therefore supported the coalition ministry formed in 1883 which did good work for three years. There was a general feeling of confidence, a tendency to over-borrow money and to spend huge sums on railways and other public works. This led to the mining and land booms which really burst in 1889, although the full effects were not realised until the bank crisis of 1893. In 1891 The Age began

3038-465: The view that modifications result from the action of the organism itself and not from the direct influence of the environment. Syme also criticized sexual selection and the Darwinian explanation for mimicry. The Dictionary of Australasian Biography (1892) noted that Syme's book "provoked warm opposition and attracted great attention." In 1891, Alfred Russel Wallace negatively reviewed Syme's book in

3100-423: The west (1980s-present) along the line of the railway. There is talk of further developments focussing on "affordable housing", on the south side of the town. While the population has grown significantly but not truly "exploded", house prices have rocketed since the 1950s. North Berwick consistently appears at the top of national house price surveys, and like-for-like prices are comparable to Edinburgh. North Berwick

3162-664: The white plumage of seabirds, and their white guano , which cover much of its surface. The seabirds can be observed at close range through remote cameras operated from the Scottish Seabird Centre near the harbour. Kenny MacAskill of the Alba Party has served as the Member of Parliament for East Lothian since 2019 . Former East Lothian Council leader Paul McLennan of the Scottish National Party (SNP) has served as

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3224-483: Was Premier again from 9 April 1870 to 19 June 1871 and from 20 October 1875 to 21 May 1877, but these periods in office were relatively uneventful. His main achievement in this period was to pass a bill abolishing all government funding to religious schools, a measure which was supported by all denominations except the Anglicans since it freed church schools from government supervision. McCulloch's government also introduced

3286-531: Was a British colonial politician and statesman who served as the fifth premier of Victoria over four non-consecutive terms from 1863 to 1868, 1868 to 1869, 1870 to 1871 and 1875 to 1877. He is the third longest-serving premier in Victorian history. McCulloch was born in Glasgow , Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the son of George McCulloch, a quarry master and contractor, and Jane Thomson, a farmer's daughter. He had only

3348-458: Was a protectionist while the Council was controlled by free traders . In 1865, the Council sought a confrontation with the Assembly by rejecting the government's tariff bill and then denying supply to McCulloch's government. McCulloch, who was a director of the London Bank, then took the extraordinary step of lending his own government 860,000 pounds to meet its debts and running expenses. After

3410-545: Was bitterly opposed, and dispute led to great contests between the Victorian Legislative Assembly and the Victorian Legislative Council . The struggle went on for years, but Syme's belief that the people as a whole should rule, rather than any one section of them, was finally established, and for a long period The Age became the predominant factor in Victorian politics. In its early days there

3472-428: Was difficulty in getting competent journalists, the best of them was G. Paton Smith who was editor for some years. After Smith left, Syme took the editorial chair until Arthur Windsor became editor in 1872 and held the position until 1900. Possibly Syme's most able assistant was Charles Henry Pearson who began writing leaders around 1875. Victoria's first protectionist tariff had been a very moderate one and McCulloch

3534-561: Was knighted in 1870 and made KCMG in 1874. In 1886, he retired to England, and died in Epsom , Surrey on 31 January 1893; he is buried in the Glasgow Necropolis . He married first Susan Renwick and second Margaret Boak Inglis, but had no children. A young cousin, George McCulloch , was manager of the Mount Gipps sheep run for McCulloch, Sellar and Co. This country was later the site of

3596-517: Was listed as the most expensive seaside town in Scotland in 2006, and was second to St. Andrews in 2009. In 2021, it was voted best place to live in Scotland. Several of the Islands of the Forth are near the town and visible from it: e.g. Fidra , Lamb , Craigleith , and the Bass Rock ; the last-named hosts a thriving colony of seabirds, including puffins and gannets . The Bass Rock appears white due to

3658-578: Was not willing to increase it. Though Syme thought highly of McCulloch's ability, he opposed him and transferred his support to Graham Berry. Parliament was not stable and more than once ministries were formed consisting partly of free traders and partly of protectionists. This did not satisfy Syme and in 1877 his advocacy brought in Berry with a large majority and popularity to The Age . The Legislative Council, however, rejected Berry's tariff and fresh constitutional difficulties arose. The governor, Sir George Bowen ,

3720-399: Was placed in a difficult position, and took the unprecedented step of asking Syme's advice. Syme's reply was that the governor should act in conformity with the opinions of the law officers of the crown. This Bowen did but Syme thought the advice was bad and told the premier so. Berry then asked Syme for his advice and took it. It is evident that Syme at this time had very great influence within

3782-400: Was recorded as Northberwyk in 1250. On the south side of North Berwick Law there is evidence of at least 18 hut circles , rich middens and a field system dating from 2,000 years ago. There have been numerous archaeological excavations in the town that have uncovered evidence of North Berwick's medieval and modern remains. One such excavation found evidence of pre-medieval occupation of

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3844-458: Was the strongest Victoria had yet seen and proved to be the longest-lived so far, surviving for nearly five years. Much of its reforming zeal came from the Attorney-General, George Higinbotham , a crusading radical. The McCulloch government fought a series of battles with the conservative landowners who dominated the Legislative Council. The most important was over the tariff issue: McCulloch

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