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The number of Argentines believed today to have Scottish ancestory could be as high as 100,000 people, and many Scottish-Argentinian families have played prominent roles in the country’s history. Large numbers of Scottish workers moved to Argentina in the nineteenth century, undertaking a wide range of work from shepherds to schoolmasters.
Amongst the early Scottish settlers were the passengers of The Symmetry (below right). This ship departed from Leith in May 1825 and carried 45 married couples, 42 single men, 14 single women, and 79 children to Argentina. They arrived three months later in Buenos Aires and, as was common with such communities, soon decided that they wished to perpetuate the traditions of religion and education which they had carried from Scotland. As a result St Andrew’s Scots School was founded in a Presbyterian church building in 1838. The school flourished, widened its brief to serve the wider community within its Scottish traditions, and continues to operate today.
One of the St Andrew’s Scots School’s teachers was Alexander Watson Hutton (1853-1936). Born in Glasgow and graduating from Edinburgh University, Watson Hutton travelled to Argentina in 1882 and began work at the school. Two years later he founded his own
Buenos Aires English High School (English because this was the language of the classes), and then in 1893 he established the Argentine Association Football League as part of his belief in the importance of sport in education. This was the first recognised football league outside the British Isles, making Watson Hutton the founder of Argentine football. His son later played for the Argentina national team, and Scottish names have since been common in Argentinian football: Jorge Brown and his brothers, Carlos Mac Allister, and Franco Niell are all examples.
The grand-daughter of one of the settlers of The Symmetry‘s days was Cecilia Grierson (1859-1934), the first woman to gain a medical degree in Argentina. Overcoming strong resistance to achieve her qualifications, Grierson went on to found the first nursing school in the country and to campaign for women’s rights. Amongst her contemporaries was Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham (1852-1936) from Renfrewshire, who travelled to Argentina to make his fortune as a cattle-rancher. This remarkable adventurer, known locally as “Don Roberto”, later returned to Scotland and became heavily involved in the foundation first of the Labour Party and then of the Scottish National Party.
Many more Scottish settlers and their descendants have contributed to the national story of Argentina, some forming distinct communities and others integrating wholly with their neighbours. Today there are St Andrew’s societies, Gaelic language courses, Tartan Day events, and of course an Argentine tartan (top).
Arsaintìona
Dh’fhaodadh an àireamh de mhuinntir Arsaintìona aig a bheil sinnsearachd Albannach a bhith cho àrd ri 100,000 neach san latha an-diugh, agus tha mòran teaghlaichean Albannach/Arsaintìonach air pàirt fhollaiseach a ghabhail ann an eachdraidh na dùthcha. Ghluais àireamh mhòr de luchd-obrach a dh’Arsaintìona san naoidheamh linn deug, a’ gabhail raon fharsaing de dhiofar obair os làimh, bho bhith nam buachaillean gu bhith nam maighstirean-sgoile.
Am measg an luchd-tuineachaidh à Alba a bu thràithe, bha an luchd-siubhail a dh’fhalbh air An Symmetry. Dh’fhàg an t-soitheach seo Port Lìte sa Chèitean 1825 a’ giùlain 45 càraid phòsta, 42 fhir singilte, 14 bhoireannaich singilte, agus 79 neach cloinne gu ruig Arsaintìona. Chaidh iad air tìr trì mìosan na dhèidh sin ann am Buenos Aires agus mar a bha cumanta anns a leithid sin de choimhearsnachdan, cho-dhùin iad gu math luath gun robh iad airson nan nòsan creideamhach is foghlaim a thug iad leotha à Alba a chumail a’ dol. Mar thoradh air an sin, chaidh Sgoil Albannach Naoimh Anndra a chur air bhonn ann an togalach eaglais Chlèireach ann an 1838. Shoirbhich gu mòr leis an sgoil, leudaich i a-mach gu bhith a’ frithealadh na coimhearsnachd fharsaing an taobh a-staigh thraidiseanan na h-Alba agus tha i air cumail a’ dol chun an latha an-diugh.
B’ e Alasdair MacBhatair Hutton (1853-1936) aon den luchd-teagaisg ann an Sgoil Albannach Naoimh Anndra. Rugadh e ann an Glaschu agus cheumnaich e à Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann. Shiubhail MacBhatair Hutton gu ruig Arsaintìona ann an 1882 agus thòisich e ag obair san sgoil. Dà bhliadhna às dèidh sin, stèidhich e a sgoil fhèin fon ainm Àrd-sgoil Bheurla Buenos Aires (Beurla on a b’ e sin cànan nan clasaichean) agus an uair sin ann an 1893 chuir e air bhonn Lìog Ball-coise Comann Arsaintìona mar thoradh airt mar a bha e a’ creidsinn cho cudromach ’s a bha spòrs ann am foghlam. B’ e seo a’ chiad lìog ball-coise a bha aithnichte taobh a-muigh na Rìoghachd Aonaichte, a’ fàgail MacBhatair Hutton mar neach-stèidheachaidh ball-coise Arsaintìonach. Bha a mhac na dhèidh sin a’ cluich do sgioba nàiseanta Arsaintìona agus tha ainmean Albannach air a bhith cumanta on uair sin ann am ball-coise Arsaintìona: Jorge MacIlleDhuinn agus a bhràithrean, Carlos MacAlasdair agus Franco MacNèill mar eisimpleirean.
B’ e Sìleas Grierson (1859-1934) ogha do aon den luchd-tuineachaidh bho làithean An Symmetry, a’ chiad bhoireannach a choisinn ceum meidigeach ann an Arsaintìona. A’ faighinn buaidh air strì na h-aghaidh a teisteanasan a thoirt gu buil, chaidh Grierson air adhart a stèidheachadh a’ chiad sgoil altramachd san dùthaich agus a dh’iomairt airson còirean bhoireannach. Am measg a comhaoisean bha Raibeart Bontine Coinneagan Greumach (1852-1936) à Siorrachd Rinn Friù, a shiubhail a dh’Arsaintìona a dhèanamh fhortan mar bhuachaille rainse-chruidh. Thill an neach-siubhail iongantach seo, a bha aithnichte san àite mar “Don Roberto”, a dh’Alba an ceann ùine agus bha e gu mòr an sàs ann an stèidheachadh a’ chiad Phàrtaidh Làbarach agus an uair sin Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba.
Tha mòran a bharrachd luchd-tuineachaidh à Alba agus an sliochd air cur ri sgeulachd nàiseanta Arsaintìona, cuid a’ cruthachadh choimhearsnachdan air leth agus feadhainn eile ag aonachadh gu tur le a nàbaidhean. San latha an-diugh, tha comainn Naoimh Anndra, cùrsaichean Gàidhlig, tachartasan Latha Tartain san dùthaich, agus cuideachd tartan Àrsaintìonach.