Greyfriars Bobby
? - 14th January 1872
Greyfriars Bobby is the story of a skye terrier who belonged to a
man called John Grey who passed away and was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard in 1858
Bobby was so devoted to his late master that he kept watch over his grave for
fourteen years, even though dogs were not allowed in the churchyard
Bobby made many friends in the town including:
James Brown - Gardener and keeper of the Greyfriars graveyard
John Traill - Who gave Bobby his dinner. he also gave Bobby
a dish engraved "Bobby's Dinner Dish" which can be seen in the Museum of
Edinburgh
In 1867 when it was announced that an
ownerless dog should be destroyed, Sir William Chambers, Lord Provost from 1865-1869, a dog lover and Director for the Scottish
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals decided to pay Bobby's licence and presented him with a collar with a brass
inscription "Greyfriars Bobby from the Lord Provost 1867 licenced" making him the responsibility of the city
council
Bobby's collar can also be seen in
the Museum of Scotland
Bobby died in 1872 and could not be buried within the cemetery
itself, since it was consecrated ground; instead he was buried just inside the gate of Greyfriars Kirkyard, not far from John
Gray's grave
