Scotland's Disastrous Attempt at Empire

Dan Snow's History Hit

History Hit

History

4.7 • 12.9K Ratings

🗓️ 8 October 2024

⏱️ 36 minutes

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Summary

In the late 17th century, Scotland tried to establish a colony in Panama - and it all went horribly wrong.

In July 1698, a fleet of five ships departed from the Firth of Forth with some 1,200 people onboard. They were bound for the Isthmus of Panama, a paradise in Central America, and their goal was to establish Scotland's first colony - New Caledonia. It was a bold, desperate gamble, intended to save Scotland from financial ruin. But only one year later, most of the settlers were dead, and the colony had been abandoned.

To tell us about the Darien scheme and how it all went wrong, we're joined by Douglas Watt, author of 'The Price of Scotland'. He explains what happened when the settlers arrived in Panama and the consequences for Scotland as a whole.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Dougal Patmore.

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0:30.3	This episode is in paid partnership with the Department of Work and Pensions.
0:36.2	Now the things we choose to tell our parents and grandparents can be a bit selective at times.
0:40.2	I bet everyone has something popping into the head about what they've decided best
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0:46.0	So, okay for me, well, I got detained, arrested if you like by the police in Nairobi in 1998. It's a long story it was not my fault and
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1:09.7	easier that way.
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1:14.2	the age of 66 are missing out on pension credit worth on average $3,900 a year. Plus, they could
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	...

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