This article is about the Scottish Nationalist, for the article about the Scottish artist of the same name, see William George Gillies. For the article about the American artist of the same name, see William S Gillies. William George Gillies was born in Haddington, Scotland in 1898. ... William S Gillies was an American artist. ...

William Gillies (1865-1932) was a Scottish nationalist and a socialist. He helped to form the Scots National League which joined with in other bodies to form the National Party of Scotland which in turn evolved into the Scottish National Party which still exists today. 1865 is a common year starting on Sunday. ... 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the UK Languages with Official Status1 English Scottish Gaelic Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... The color red and particularly the red flag are traditional symbols of Socialism. ... The Scots National League (SNL) were a body seeking Scottish independence in the early 1920s. ... The National Party of Scotland (NPS) was formed in 1928 after John MacCormick of the Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association (GUSNA) called a meeting of all those favouring the establishment of a party favouring Scottish independence. ... In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) (Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is a centre-left political party which favours Scottish independence. ...

Gillies was born in the Galloway area of Scotland in 1865, but grew up in London. He was interested in Scottish History from an early age and at the age of seventeen he became friend to John Murdoch who was then the editor of The Highlander publication. Gillies became as enthusiastic for the rights of crofters in the Scottish highlands and joined the Highland Land League. He was at this stage enthusiastic for some form of home rule for Scotland within the United Kingdom but grew to support the notion of complete independence instead. Galloway (Scottish Gaelic, Gall-ghaidhealaibh) today refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright in southwest Scotland. ... 1865 is a common year starting on Sunday. ... St. ... Stirling Castle has stood for centuries atop a volcanic crag defending the lowest ford of the River Forth. ... The Scottish Highlands are the mountainous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault. ... The first Highland Land League emerged as a distinct political force in Scotland during the 1880s, with its power base in the countrys Highlands and Islands. ... Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ...

Gillies also began to learn Gaelic and wrote a number of plays in this language, also serving as secretary of the Gaelic Society of London from 1904 to 1905. However he stood down as secretary when the society rejected his proposal that they should campaign to make Gaelic the national language of Scotland. Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... 1904 is a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1905 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Gillies, encouraged by Murdoch, also became aware of the developments in the politics of Ireland becoming an ardent supporter of Sinn Fein, associating with figures such as Art O'Brien who would become the head of the Irish Self Determination League. He supported the Easter Rising of 1916 and was deeply critical of those socialists who refused to support it, along with those in the Scots Gaelic revival circles who refused to support it. Sinn Féin (in the Irish language ourselves or we ourselves; not as sometimes incorrectly translated, ourselves alone) is an Irish political party. ... Easter Rising - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ...

Gillies formed a friendship with Ruairidh Erskine of Mar contributing articles to his publications, Guth na Bliadhna (Voice of the Year) and Alba. In 1920 the Scots National League (SNL) was formed and these two mean became its principal leaders. Ruairidh Erskine (Scottish Gaelic: Ruaridh Arascain) was a Scottish nationalist, and a member of the landed gentry, inheriting the title Earl of Mar (hence he is commonly known as Ruairidh Erskine of Mar). ... 1920 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ...

Gillies hoped that the SNL would reflect the revolutionary aims of the Irish nationalists by then engaged in a war of independence with the British state. He hoped that it would be the organisation which would lead Scotland to independence and revive the Gaelic language. Gillies became a regular contributor to the SNL's regular publication Liberty (which was in fact in part funded by Sinn Fein).

Gillies was involved in a little known chapter of Scotland's history when he was involved in the establishment of a volunteer force which was ready to use armed force to win Scottish independence. This body (styled Fianna na hAlba) abandoned their plans on the advice of the Irish nationalist leadership. Michael Collins, in a letter to Art O'Brien stated that they were weaker than the Irish nationalist forces at even their weakest point during their war of independence and stated, "they do not appreciate the particular difficulties they are up against". Michael Collins (Irish name Micheál Ó Coileáin; October 16, 1890 – August 22, 1922), an Irish revolutionary leader, served as Minister for Finance in the Irish Republic, as a member of the Irish delegation during the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, as Chairman of the Provisional Government and as Commander-in...

In 1926 Gillies became the first editor of the SNL's newspaper, The Scots Independent. 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Scots Independent is a monthly newspaper that is in favour of Scottish independence. ...

Gillies and Erskine led the SNL into the formation of the National Party of Scotland (NPS) in 1928, which was far more moderate than the SNL. This resulted in many SNL members leaving the NPS dissatisfied with their methods. Gillies died in 1932, two years before the NPS evolved in the Scottish National Party (SNP), which at the time was even more moderate than the NPS had been. 1928 was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1932 is a leap year starting on a Friday. ...

Angus Clark, one of Gillies' closest friends wrote on hearing of his death, "he has left an example of noble effort, great faith and true devotion to his country."

Gillies' grandaughter, Anne Lorne Gillies is active in politics, contesting the 1999 elections to the European Parliament as a SNP candidate. Anne Lorne Gillies is a Scottish singer-songwriter, broadcaster, academic and writer. ... The European Parliament is the parliamentary body of the European Union (EU), directly elected by EU citizens once every five years. ...