Walled out of humanity: Sir John Clerk and his circle

This chapter concentrates on the life, work and circle of eminent Scottish antiquarian and self-avowed Romanist Sir John Clerk of Penicuik. It explores Clerk’s own fascination with ancient Rome, which had been inspired by both his education and a Grand Tour to Italy, and examines how this impacted on his own interpretations of Scotland’s heritage. As a key player in the formulation of the 1707 British Union, Clerk’s involvement in modern politics clearly influenced his view of the nation’s past. Also discussed here are Clerk’s important patronage of other antiquarians, particularly Alexander Gordon, whose iconic tome Itinerarium Septentrionale of 1726 would become a key text on Roman Scotland for decades to follow.