Scots in the founding of Prince Edward Island

Canada’s smallest province is largely a Scottish creation. In 1758 Lord Rollo, a Scottish peer, captured the sparsely populated island from the French and awarded the land by lot to 67 British subjects, most of whom were Scots. The colony was separated from Nova Scotia in 1769 and a Scot, Capt. Walker Patterson, was appointed as the first governor. Other early Scottish governors were Charles Douglas-Smith, Sir Donald Campbell, Sir A Bannerman and George Dundas.

In 1803 Thomas Douglas, Earl of Selkirk, established a successful settlement of some 800 Highlanders, and by the 1860s Prince Edward Island was more than half Scottish. Although this percentage is now far lower, the Scottish presence remains significant.