Timeline of Dundee history

The timeline of Dundee history shows the significant events in the history of Dundee, Scotland.

1100–1799

1190 – Dundee Parish Church established.
1200 – William the Lion deeds his younger brother David, Earl of Huntingdon superiority over Dundee and its port.
1239 – The High School of Dundee opens.
1296 – Dundee Castle surrendered to the English.
1297 – William Wallace besieges and captures Dundee Castle.
1298 – Alexander Scrymgeour appointed keeper of Dundee Castle by William Wallace.
1306 – Dundee Castle retaken by the English.
1313 – Dundee Castle destroyed by Robert the Bruce.
1385 – John of Gaunt & the English captured and partially destroyed the town.
1465 – Birth of Hector Boece a Scottish philosopher and historian.
1518 – Birth of James Halyburton the Scottish Reformer and provost of the town for 33 years.
1564 – The Howff established.
1580 – Dudhope Castle extended.
1645 – Population of Dundee estimated to be 11,200.
1651 – Siege of Dundee: George Monck besieges and sacks the town on the orders of Oliver Cromwell.
1684 – John Graham of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount Dundee became constable.
1732 – Birth of George Dempster of Dunnichen an advocate, landowner and politician.
1759 – Birth of William Playfair, inventor of graphical methods of statistics including the line, area and bar chart.
1795 - Birth of William Lyon Mackenzie, a journalist and politician who became the first mayor of Toronto in 1834, playing a key role in its establishment as a city, and later led a failed rebellion in Upper Canada in 1837.
1797 – James Keiller & Son, a jam and marmalade factory, is established.
1798 – Dundee Infirmary opens in King Street.

1800–1899

1801 – The Courier established as the Dundee, Perth and Cupar Advertiser.
1812 – Mary Shelley moves to Dundee from London. Her time in the city influences her writing, eventually inspiring her to write Frankenstein.
1819 – Dundee Infirmary granted royal charter and renamed "Dundee Royal Infirmary and Asylum".
1820 – Dundee Asylum formally established as a separate entity from Dundee Royal Infirmary and opened in premises in Albert Street.
1825 – Walter Scott writes Bonnie Dundee a poem and song in honour of John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee.
1831 – Dundee and Newtyle Railway opens.
1834 – James Chalmers publicly exhibits the adhesive postage stamp.
1835
*25 July: James Bowman Lindsay demonstrates a constant electric light at a public meeting at the city's Thistle Hall.
*First jute cargos arrive in Dundee beginning the city's jute trade.
1836 – St Andrew's Cathedral completed.
1838 – Dundee and Arbroath Railway opens.
1839 – James Chalmers submits his adhesive postage stamp proposal to the UK Government.
1847 - Dundee and Perth Railway opens.
1849 - The construction of Camperdown Works begins.
1851 – St Mary, Our Lady of Victories Church opens.
1853 – Royal Arch, built to celebrate a visit by Queen Victoria, is completed.
1855 - New Dundee Royal Infirmary opened in Barrack Road, replacing King Street building.
1855 – St Paul's Cathedral completed.
1857 – Birth of Williamina Fleming, an astronomer who discovered the Horsehead Nebula and white dwarf stars, and catalogued hundreds of stars.
1860 - Dundee Convalescent Hospital opened in Union Place.
1863 – Baxter Park opens.
1864 – Thomas John MacLagan begins working at Dundee Royal Infirmary, where his use of salicin to treat patients lays the groundwork for the development of aspirin.
1867 – The McManus Art Gallery and Museum opens as the Albert Institute.
1870 – Balgay Hill and Victoria Park were acquired by the City as public parks.
1871 – Legislation for slum clearing was established with the City Improvement Act.
1878 – First Tay Rail Bridge opens.
1879 - Foundation stone laid for new home of Dundee Royal Asylum at Liff. The institution will completely transfer there from the site in Albert Street by October 1882.
1879 – Tay Bridge Disaster: The Tay Rail Bridge collapses killing around 75 people.
1881 – University of Dundee established as University College, Dundee by deed of endowment.
1885 – Harris Academy, Dundee’s first public school, opens to pupils.
1887 – Second Tay Rail Bridge opens.
1888 – Abertay University established as Dundee Institute of Technology.
1889
*Dundee becomes the first Scottish city to be granted city status.
*King's Cross Hospital opens as a fever hospital for patients suffering from infectious diseases.
1891 – Population of Dundee estimated to be 153,587.
1893 – The East Poorhouse Hospital, which will later become Maryfield Hospital, opens as a hospital for the poor.
1897 – Dundee Women's Hospital opens.
1899 – Royal Victoria Hospital opens as the Victoria Hospital for Incurables.

1900–1999

1901
*Population of Dundee estimated to be 161,173.
*RRS Discovery, the world’s first purpose built scientific research ship is built and launched.
*SS Californian, known for its inaction during the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, is launched.
1905 – DC Thomson is established.
1906 – 1906 Dundee fire: a large fire breaks out in a warehouse storing whisky.
1909 – Dundee United F.C. forms as Dundee Hibernian.
1914 – Dundee Dental Hospital opens.
1915
*Dundee Women's Hospital moves to a new building in Elliot Road.
* The 4th Battalion Black Watch sustains significant losses at the Battle of Loos.
1918 – Association of Jute Spinners and Manufacturers founded in Dundee, initially to protect the prices of its members' products.
1919 - The Kingsway opens to the public, becoming the first ring road system in the UK.
1920 - Several of Dundee's leading jute firms including Cox Brothers, Gilroy and Sons and J. and A. D. Grimond are amalgamated as Jute Industries Ltd.
1923 – The Caird Hall concert auditorium formally opened by Edward, Prince of Wales.
1925 – War memorial opens at the summit of Dundee Law.
1933 – Dundee City Chambers opens.
1935 – Mills Observatory opens.
1936 – Green's Playhouse opens.
1938 – The Beano is first published by DC Thomson.
1939 - Dundee Repertory Theatre founded, initially based in Nicoll Street.
1946
* Camperdown Country Park opens.
* A twinning agreement is established between Dundee and Orleans, France. Dundee’s first twin city.
1959 — Dundee and Zadar, Croatia become twin cities.
1962 — Dundee twins with Alexandria, Virginia in the United States and Würzburg in Germany.
1963
* Royal Arch, built to celebrate a visit by Queen Victoria, is demolished.
* Dundee Repertory Theatre's premises at Nicoll Street is destroyed in a fire.
* Dundee Airport opens.
* "Beatlemania" is coined for the first time at The Beatles' concert at the Caird Hall.
1966 – Tay Road Bridge opens.
1967 – University of Dundee gains independent status.
1974 – Ninewells Hospital opens.
1978
*The Wellgate Centre opens.
*Dundee Synagogue opens.
1980
* Scottish League Cup Final takes place at Dens Park.
*Dundee and Nablus, Palestine become twin cities.
1982 – New Dundee Repertory Theatre opens.
1984 – DMA Design is established.
1986 – RRS Discovery returns to Dundee from London.
1991 – Lemmings is released by DMA Design.
1993
*Timex strike: Industrial dispute between workers and management takes place over seven months resulting in the closure of the factory and the loss of hundreds of jobs.
*Discovery Point, a visitor centre dedicated to the RRS Discovery, opens.
1994 – Abertay University gains university status.
1996 – Verdant Works Museum opens.
1997
*The world's first computer games design degree is introduced at Abertay University.
*Grand Theft Auto is first released by DMA Design.
*Green's Playhouse is rebuilt after a fire and operates as a Mecca Bingo Hall.
1998
* Dundee Royal Infirmary closes.
* Last jute cargo arrives in Dundee bringing an end to the city's jute trade.
1999 – Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre opens.

2000–present

2000
* Dundee Central Mosque opens.
* Dundee Science Centre opens.
* Dundee International Book Prize established.
* The Overgate Centre opens.
2001
* The Dundee Waterfront project launches with the aim of transforming the city's waterfront by 2031.
* 2001 Morgan Academy fire: A fire engulfs Morgan Academy and results in pupils and staff to be decanted to the former Rockwell High School site. The damaged school is then repaired and reopened in 2004.
2004 – Dundee and Dubai, United Arab Emirates become twin cities.
2006
*The world's first ethical hacking degree is introduced at Abertay University.
*Radio 1's Big Weekend takes place at Camperdown Country Park.
2007 – Scottish Challenge Cup Final takes place in Dens Park.
2009 – Dundee International Submarine Memorial dedicated.
2010
*Dundee Museum of Transport is established.
*Winter of 2010–11: A major thundersnow storm occurs in Dundee, resulting between 8 and 10 inches of snow falling rapidly, accompanied by thunder, lightning, and fierce winds, described as “the perfect storm”
2011
*DUNDEAD, a horror film festival hosted by Dundee Contemporary Arts, launches.
*Dundee House, the headquarters of the city council, opens.
2013
* Dundee is shortlisted for the UK City of Culture in 2017, but loses out to Hull.
* is established.
* Dundee and West Dundee in the United States become twin cities.
2014
*Dundee is granted UNESCO City of Design status, the first city in the UK to receive the designation.
*The University of Dundee's Discovery Centre opens.
2015
*A memorial for Mary Slessor is unveiled outside the Steeple Church in Dundee’s Nethergate area on the 100th anniversary of her death.
*Dundee Museum of Transport successfully purchases the Maryfield Tram Depot to transform it into a new museum.
*The Scottish Traditional Music Awards and the ISAM International Congress are hosted in Dundee at the Caird Hall for the first time.
2016
*Beano Studios is established by DC Thomson.
*The Scottish Traditional Music Awards are hosted at the Caird Hall for the second time.
2017
*Dundee International Book Prize disestablished.
*Carnival 56, Dundee’s own music festival, takes place at Camperdown Country Park, but it is scrapped after one year.
*Dundee bids to be European Capital of Culture for 2023, but due to Brexit, the bid is terminated.
2018
*Dundee Pride is established and the city's first pride event is held.
*The Dundee Design Parade is established.
*Dundee's new railway station concourse opens.
*V&A Dundee opens.
2019 – Dundee Synagogue closes.
2020
*NHS Tayside announces that they have "effectively eliminated" hepatitis C.
*BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, scheduled to be hosted at Camperdown Country Park, is cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
*Plans for an Eden Project visitor attraction are revealed for Dundee.
*Camperdown Golf Course closes amid cuts by Dundee City Council.
*Rockstar Dundee is established after Ruffian Games is taken over by Rockstar Games, marking the game company’s return to Dundee for the first time in 21 years.
*Debenhams close their department store in the Overgate Centre.
2021
*Dundee is named as the UK's only "City of the Future" by Cognizant.
*The Caird Hall operates as a mass COVID‑19 vaccination centre in February under the direction of NHS Tayside and delivered around 135,000 vaccine doses before it closed in September.
*Emanata Studios is established as a division of Beano Studios by DC Thomson.
2022
* 2022 Kirkton riot: Disturbance takes place in the Kirkton area of the city which leads to multiple arrests.
*Dundee, along with Perth and Fife form a bid to be UK City of Culture in 2025, but the bid does not get shortlisted.
*The Scottish Traditional Music Awards is hosted at the Caird Hall for a third time.
2023
*BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend takes place at Camperdown Country Park for the second time, after it was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dundee becomes the first Scottish city to host the event twice.
*The first Scottish Esports degree is introduced by Dundee and Angus College.
*Ambassador Cruise Line announces Dundee as a home port for their new cruise liner, Ambition.
*Mike Ashley purchases the Overgate Centre for approximately £30 million.
*The 2012 RRS Discovery visits Dundee for the first time.
2024
* Mills Observatory, Broughty Castle Museum and Caird Park Golf Course are earmarked for closure by Dundee City Council to cut costs. Mills Observatory is later saved from closure following a resurgence in visitor numbers whilst the decision on Broughty Castle Museum is deferred.
* The Competitive Games Lab and Wacom Cintiq Lab opens at Abertay University, specialising in research and development in gaming, esports and digital art.
* Planning permission is approved for Eden Project Dundee.
* Plans to repurpose the Wellgate Centre into a new college campus operated by Dundee and Angus College are unveiled.
2025
* Broughty Castle Museum is given £50,000 of funding to continue operating for a year, after previously being earmarked for closure.
* Mills Observatory records its 2024/25 season as its best on record and receives £5,000 of funding from Culture & Business Scotland to refurbish ahead of its 90th anniversary season.
* University of Dundee reveals a £35 million deficit which resulted in 632 jobs being put under threat. The Scottish Government subsequently gives the university a £22 million bailout.
* The opens at Dundee’s waterfront, specialising in developing new technologies for TV, film and gaming.
* LIVEHOUSE Dundee, a multi-purpose live entertainment venue opens at the former Green's Playhouse site.
* Caird Park Golf Course closes following cuts from Dundee City Council.
* Frasers opens up their new department store in the Overgate Centre, replacing Debenhams which closed in 2020.
* The and Dundee Music Festival is established.
* The inaugural Dundee Economic Summit is held by the Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce.
* University of Dundee principal Shane O'Neill resigns following an independent investigation which revealed financial mismanagement at the university.
* Dundee hosts the Scottish Album of the Year Award for the first time at the Caird Hall in a role that the city will take up to 2027.
* Doof in the Park, an EDM festival organised by Hannah Laing, is launched and takes place in Camperdown Country Park. A second edition for 2026 was announced shortly after the 2025 edition.
* The PS Waverley returns to Dundee for the first time since 1984.
* Dundee hosts the Scots Language Awards for the second time.
* RRS Discovery marks 100 years as a designated Royal Research Ship. To celebrate, the 2012 RRS Discovery ship, named after the 1901 ship built in Dundee, returns to the city for the first time in two years.
* Canadian singer Justin Bieber makes an unannounced visit to Dundee, where he films his music video for “Bad Honey” in a city centre bar.
* The world’s first remote transatlantic stroke treatment is conducted by the University of Dundee.
2026
*Dundee is set to host the at LIVEHOUSE Dundee.