How the Scots invented Canada

**Steve Ashton** · 30th January 11, 02:33 AM

Sir Sandord Fleming was also the most influential proponant (The plaque in his birthplace of Kirkcady, Scotland says Inventor) of what we today call World-Wide Standard Time Zones. All because he missed a train because at the time every city set their own local time.

**Biathlonman** · 1st February 11, 01:24 PM

Am reading Mcgoogan's book now - he was at a Burns supper here and we have some mutual friends in common. I haven't read all his book or any of his others yet, but can confirm that he's an awfully nice guy - which is more than you can say for many writers. I hope his book does well in this electronic non-book friendly age of ours.

**xman** · 1st February 11, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Ashton

Sir Sandord Fleming was also the most influential proponant (The plaque in his birthplace of Kirkcady, Scotland says Inventor) of what we today call World-Wide Standard Time Zones. All because he missed a train because at the time every city set their own local time.

Yes and what a hard way was had getting the world to accept it. I wish it was Paris Mean Time, but I'm biased. I've a friend who's written a play about it actually. Ironic that Greenwich is in England, a country that can't run a train on time so I'm told. Fleming is probably turning.

**Lallans** · 2nd February 11, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by xman

Yes and what a hard way was had getting the world to accept it. I wish it was Paris Mean Time, but I'm biased. I've a friend who's written a play about it actually. Ironic that Greenwich is in England, a country that can't run a train on time so I'm told. Fleming is probably turning.

We needed the time, Greenwich had the observatory. Plus, naval and military time was based on the Greenwich meridian for the same reason.