Manse - Popular Usage

Popular Usage

Many notable Scots are referred to as a "son (or daughter) of the manse", as a parent was a Presbyterian minister, and they were therefore brought up in a manse.

Among those to whom the epithet has been applied are:

• Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development
• Wendy Alexander (sister of Douglas), Labour MSP; former leader of the Labour Party group in the Scottish Parliament (2007–2008); former minister in the Scottish Executive (1999–2002)
• John Logie Baird, engineer and inventor of the world's first working television system
• Richard Baker MSP, Shadow Justice Minister in the Scottish Parliament
• Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• John Buchan, novelist and Unionist MP, served as Governor General of Canada
• Peter Fraser, advocate; former Lord Advocate (1989–1992); former Conservative and Unionist MP
• James Gray, Conservative MP
• William "Captain" Kidd, pirate
• Andrew Bonar Law, former Prime Minister (1922–1923)
• Eric Liddell, athlete and rugby internationalist, winner of the 400 metres at the 1924 Olympic Games; missionary to China; portrayed in the film Chariots of Fire
• Sheena McDonald, broadcaster
• Michael Moore, Liberal Democrat MP
• Rab C. Nesbitt, layabout
• John Reith, founder of the BBC
• William Ritchie Sorley, philosopher
• David Steel, former leader of the Liberal Party and the Social and Liberal Democrats; former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
• David Tennant (stage name of David McDonald), actor
• William Montgomery Watt, Islamic studies scholar and Orientalist
• John Witherspoon, signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence