Two Edinburgh University graduates have donated £1m to their alma mater to support a new project to study the influence Scots have made around the world.
Alan and Anne McFarlane's gift to the Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies is believed to be the largest private donation to a history project at a British university.
Mr McFarlane, who studied history at Edinburgh, is a leading international financier based in the city.
He owned 20% of Walter Scott & Partners, of which he is still the managing director, when it was sold for £400m last year. His share of the investment company's dividends before it was bought in May 2006 amounted to £5.6m.
The Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies, which is due to open next year under the auspices of the School of History, Classics and Archaeology at Edinburgh, will be headed up by the renowned Scottish historian Professor Tom Devine.
The focus of the centre's work will be on examining how Scots shaped societies, economies and culture in countries around the world, particularly in North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Young P Dawkins III, the vice-principal for development at Edinburgh University, said: "The Scottish Centre for Diaspora Studies represents an exciting development for the university and is founded on one of the university's key strengths: Scottish history. It is wonderful news Alan and Anne have chosen to support the centre as well as extending their support for vital undergraduate bursaries."
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