James Blyth: The Scots engineer who pioneered the wind turbine

Blyth was a professor of natural philosophy at Anderson’s College in Glasgow which later became part of the University of Strathclyde.

He spent his summers at his childhood home in Marykirk where he developed the wind engine technology.

According to the University of Edinburgh, Blyth presented a paper in 1891 to the Royal Society of Edinburgh in which he argued the benefits of renewable energy including wind and wave power.

Blyth’s great granddaughter Ferelith Green said: “As a family, we’re delighted about this initiative.

“When he was developing wind power, coal was plentiful and cheap at the time and so wind power never really took off.

“It’s only within recent times, when it’s become much more important, that he’s finally getting some recognition.”

Blyth died in 1906 and is buried at St Mary’s Church in Marykirk.

Industry body Scottish Renewables has funded the plaque because it says the Scottish pioneer deserves wider recognition.

Chief executive Claire Mack said: “You might struggle to go to a renewables office of any size and discover that there isn’t a meeting room named after James Blyth but beyond the industry {he’s} probably not particularly well known.”