Parish People

Edward Milligan, distinguished lecturer in Medical Science Whilst not as famous as other sons of Kirkbean, notably John Paul Jones and John Campbell, Dr Edward Milligan was nevertheless, a striking example of what can be achieved in the face of adversity. Edward Milligan was born in the Parish in 1786 and spent most of his working life in the humble occupation of shoemaking before gaining distinction as a lecturer of medical science in Edinburgh. A largely self-taught linguist and mathematician, he earned sufficient funds to pay his way through college and after much patient toil teaching himself and others, he acquired not only great eminence among the learned, but also a considerable fortune. More remarkably however, much of this was achieved whilst he was completely blind. Such was his strength of mind, his cheerfulness continued unimpaired and he continued his course of lectures with great success until his last illness claimed his life 1833, aged just 47.   A large monument with urn to his memory was erected in Kirkbean church yard with the inscription:   Edward MILLIGAN, MD born in this parish 1786 and died 1st December 1833. A Man of general erudition embracing even the abstrusest studies. Remarkable for application, memory & classical taste; An able Mathematician & a renowned Teacher of the theory of Medicine; The Architect of his own status in society Who left behind him fortune as well as fame; one who, in short, opened for himself a path to distinction amidst obstacles as formidable as the compact granite of his native Criffel. Filio. Suos in parentes valde pio, Erga omnes benevolo, sed amicia amicissimo Artis. Medicae aliarum que pertissimo pater moerens hoc monumentum posuit.

Birthplace of two great seafarers...

John Paul Jones Undoubtedly, one of Kirkbean’s most famous sons is John Paul Jones, founder of the United States Navy, who was born on July 6th, 1747, in a cottage on the grounds of the Arbigland estate, southeast of the village. John Paul (who added Jones to his name in later life) was the son of a gardener at Arbigland. His parents John Paul (Sr.) and Jean Duff married on November 29th, 1733, in the neighbouring parish of New Abbey. John Paul started his maritime career at the age of 13, sailing out of Whitehaven in the county of Cumberland, as apprentice aboard the “Friendship” under Captain Benson. His older brother had married and settled in Virginia, the destination of many of John Paul’s early voyages. For several years, John Paul sailed aboard a number of different merchant and slaver ships, but after a short time in this business, he became unhappy with the cruelty in the slave trade and, in 1768, whilst in port in Jamaica, he found passage back to Scotland to find another position. During his next voyage, the young John Paul’s career quickly advanced when, by chance, both the captain and a ranking mate suddenly died of yellow fever leaving John to successfully navigate the ship back to a safe port. The vessel's owners appointed him master of his own crew. But his reputation was to suffer equally as quickly as he had advanced in his career when he was accused of cruelty to a deck hand, then, in another incident, killed a member of his crew, a mutineer, with a sword in a dispute over wages. He later claimed he had acted in self defence. Fearing he would be tried for murder, he felt compelled to flee to Virginia, leaving his fortune behind. Historians believe he took the surname Jones, for disguise. Because of his merchant navy experience, the Continental Congress commissioned him a lieutenant in 1775 and promoted him to captain the following year. Cruising as far north as Nova Scotia, he took more than 25 prizes in 1776. It was in Europe, however, that Jones won lasting acclaim. In 1777 he sailed to France in the Ranger and in Paris he found American diplomat Benjamin Franklin sympathetic to his strategic objectives: hit-and-run attacks on Britain.  Early in 1778 Jones attacked the port of Whitehaven, where his seafaring career began. France became America's ally, but Jones had to be satisfied with a good deal less than he had hoped for in men and ships. With an old, vessel renamed Bon Homme Richard (in honour of Franklin) as his flagship, in the summer of 1779 Jones led a small squadron around the coasts of Ireland and Scotland, taking several small prizes. Then, off the coast of Flamborough Head on September 23rd, he fell in with a large British convoy from the Baltic, escorted by the Serapis (50 guns) and the Scarborough (20 guns). The most spectacular naval episode of the Revolution followed - a duel between the Bon Homme Richard and the Serapis, a new, copper-bottomed frigate. In the ensuing battle, Jones and his crew managed to board the Serapis, take it over and sail for Holland. He made a final visit to the United States in 1787, when Congress unanimously voted to award him a gold medal for his outstanding services. He was the only naval officer of the American Revolution so honoured. Soon afterwards, he accepted a commission in the Russian navy and was put in command of a Black Sea squadron with the rank of rear admiral before returning to France where he died. In 1905, Jones' body was ceremonially removed from his interment in a Parisian charnel house and brought to the United States aboard the USS Brooklyn, escorted by three other cruisers. On April 24th, 1906, Jones's coffin was installed in Bancroft Hall at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, following a ceremony in Dahlgren Hall, presided over by President Theodore Roosevelt who gave a lengthy tributary speech. On January 26th, 1913, the Captain's remains were finally re-interred in a magnificent bronze and marble sarcophagus at the Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis. John Paul Jones, founder of the US Navy, born in Kirkbean. The John Paul Jones Museum at Kirkbean The Royal Navy ship, Serapis and the US ship, Bonhomme Richard engage A patch from the US Navy Ship, the USS John Paul Jones The interior of the cottage where John Paul Jones was born A US stamp featuring John Paul Jones A US warship typical of the period A statue of John Paul Jones at the US Naval College

John Campbell Although somewhat overshadowed by his more famous seafaring rival, John Campbell, born in 1720 in Kirkbean, became a British naval officer, navigational expert and colonial governor. Campbell joined the Royal Navy at an early age and sailed around the world in 1740 on the Centurion. He later became known as a navigational expert and was, from 1782 to his death, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in Newfoundland in 1782. HMS Centurion was a 60-gun fourth rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, built at Portsmouth Dockyard and launched on January 6th, 1732. John Campbell’s father was minister of Kirkbean and John was, at an early age, apprenticed to the master of a coasting vessel. That vessel's mate was pressed into the navy and John is said to have entered the navy by offering himself in exchange for him. He served for three years in the Blenheim, Torbay, and Russell before being appointed in 1740 as a midshipman to the Centurion where he was promoted to master's mate after the Centurion's ensuing circumnavigation of the world. He was soon promoted to master after the 1743 engagement against the Manila galleon Nuestra Señora de Covadonga. In 1745, Campbell passed the examination for lieutenant and soon gained a first command. In 1747 he was promoted to post of captain of the new frigate, Bellona and, in 1749 he was given command of the expedition to the Pacific. His next commands after the Bellona were the Mermaid, the Prince (90 guns) and - in 1757 - the Essex (64 guns). During Campbell's command of the Essex, in 1756, Campbell gave a sea trial to Tobias Mayer's new lunar tables and reflecting circle, trials which would profoundly influence marine navigation for the next 250 years. Campbell returned to the Royal George as flag captain in November 1759, this time under Hawke (when Hawke moved his flag to that ship), serving as such during the decisive battle of Quiberon Bay on November 20th, 1759. Next, Campbell was captain of the Dorsetshire (70 guns), on the home station and in the Mediterranean from 1760 to the peace in 1763. He was admitted as a fellow of the Royal Society on May 24th, 1764 (and was one of its Visitors to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, from March 1765), before being one of those the Board of Longitude asked to 'number-crunch' the results of the 1764 second sea-trial to Barbados of John Harrison's longitude watch.  From about 1764, he commanded the royal yacht Mary, later moving to the HMY Royal Charlotte, a command he retained until promotion to rear-admiral of the blue on January 23rd, 1778. Then, in March 1778, he was chosen to be "captain of the fleet" and effectively chief of staff in HMS Victory, which commissioned in May 1778. In 1782, Campbell was appointed governor and commander-in-chief of Newfoundland. He held this post from 1782 to his death at his house at Charles Street, Berkeley Square, London on December 16th, 1790. A portrait of Campbell dated 1782 Newfoundland, where Campbell became Governor General