1720 AD imprisoned
From Alexander Cruden – Madness or Affliction?:
Alexander Cruden was locked away in a mad-house in Tolbooth.
Biographers give two main theories for what precipitated his imprisonment:
1) he was bitten by a dog and contracted rabies (this has been discredited by some);
2) he fell in love with a daughter of a clergyman from Aberdeen and his interest was not returned.
This second theory is supported by his first biographer, Alexander Chalmers whom, though sympathetic to Cruden, is careful not to disclose the details of what happened as the people involved were still living at the time of writing and had considerable power and influence. Piecing together details from Cruden’s diary and other documents, Keays concludes that Cruden was interested in Thomas Blackwell’s daughter, but she unfortunately eloped with her own brother. Perhaps Alexander Cruden became “mad” as a result of that incident, but more likely he was thrown into the madhouse because he knew too much.
Lattitude: 55.9419° N
Longitude: 3.0539° W
Region: Europe
Modern Day United Kingdom
