Hugh Blair of Borgue facts for kids

Hugh Blair (1708–1765) was a man from Scotland who lived a long time ago. He was known for being quite unique and was sometimes called "the daft lad of Borgue." Today, some people think his actions might be similar to what we now call autism spectrum disorder. Even though he behaved differently, many people who knew him liked him.

About Hugh Blair's Life

Hugh Blair was born in 1708. His parents were David and Grizell Blair. He was the oldest of four children, with a younger brother named John and two sisters. Sadly, his father passed away when Hugh was only eight years old, in 1716.

When Hugh was 29, in 1737, his younger brother John became his legal guardian. This meant John helped manage Hugh's affairs.

In 1746, Hugh married a woman named Nickie Mitchell. However, two years later, his brother John asked a special court in Edinburgh to end the marriage. The court agreed to annul the marriage. It's not clear if Hugh fully understood he was married or why the marriage ended. When asked if he wanted to marry, he would often just say "yes," even if he didn't know the person. He also had trouble answering questions from the court, sometimes just writing the questions again instead of giving an answer.

Hugh's Unique Habits

Hugh Blair had many interesting and unusual habits. These actions made him stand out in his community.

Daily Routines and Collections

Hugh liked to collect certain things. He would gather bird feathers, small twigs, and pieces of cloth. He also had a favorite piece of clothing that he wore all the time. He would fix it by sewing on patches of new cloth. Sometimes, he would take these patches from other people without them knowing.

He also liked things to be in a specific order. He would always want the same seat in church. He also did some actions over and over again, which are called repetitive acts.

Social Interactions

Hugh often found social situations tricky. He would visit people without telling them he was coming. He also copied greetings from others but didn't usually start a conversation himself. He sometimes spent time with servants who would make fun of him, but he didn't seem to realize they were teasing him.

Even though some people thought he wasn't very smart, others were amazed by his excellent long term memory. He could remember things for a very long time.

Personal Habits and Interests

Hugh preferred to eat his meals alone. He would even let his pet cat eat food right off his plate! He also had a strange habit of washing his wig over and over. He seemed to enjoy watching the water drops fall from it.

He would often carry rocks and pieces of wood from one place to another for no clear reason. He also became very interested in dry stone dykes after watching workers build them. Even though he didn't know what they were for, he built one on his own land that didn't lead anywhere and served no purpose.

Hugh also preferred the company of animals over people. He slept in a cold, small room called a garret. His bed was often full of twigs and old feathers, and it might have had bugs.