King George IV's Visit to Scotland
In 1822 Capt. Taylor instructed by Stevenson to take
the Rt. Hon. Lord Willoughby de Broke to the
Isle of May and Bell Rock, probably in some way connected
to the impending visit of King George IV.
In his letter to His Lordship, Stevenson says: “Mr
Taylor who accompanies the Antelope to the Bell Rock is
also an excellent Pilot on the East coast. He was long master
of the Bell Rock Tender, but is now Storekeeper at Leith
for the Lighthouse Service. He will land the party with
great safety at the Isle of May and the Bell Rock Lighthouse.
He is also a good pilot into the Frith and River of Tay
. . .”
King George IV's arrival at Leith
on his first visit to Scotland in 1822
Some weeks later, saw the arrival of King George IV
in Edinburgh, the first visit of a British monarch to Scotland
since Charles II in 1650. Grant’s “Edinburgh Old
and New” describes the scene: “One of the greatest
events of its time in Leith was the landing there of George
IV, on the 15th August 1822. The King was on board the ‘Royal
George’, which was towed in the Roads by two steam-packets,
followed by the escorting frigates, which fired salutes
that were answered by the flagship and ‘Forte’
frigate; and a salute from the battery announced that all
had come to anchor.”
There can be little doubt that the Establishment
of the Commissioners of Northern Light-houses were in full
attendance that day to ensure the safe arrival of the King!
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