Alexander Park Lyle, 1st baronet of Glendelvine in Perthshire, donated £10,000 in 1929 to a fund to clear the national debt. Elsie Mackay died on an Atlantic flight with Walter Hinchliffe, left SWNSIt was an altruistic cause that brought together a silent-screen actress, a shipping tycoon, a newspaper proprietor and an Esperanto-speaking surgeon. Clearing the national debt became an aspiration after the First World War, prompting wealthy patriots to write huge cheques. They came from a variety of backgrounds but typically had two things in common: they were Scottish and from “new money” amassed through industries such as shipping. The UK is seeking permission to release the money from the National Fund for the Redemption of the National Debt and let…

Source: The Times May 27, 2018 23:07 UTC