Highland Potato Famine

The Highland Potato Famine, which occurred in the 19th century between the 1846 and roughly 1856 in Scotland, was a catastrophic period of mass starvation, disease, and emigration due to a potato disease known as potato blight (Phytophthora infestans). While Ireland's concurrent Great Famine is more widely recognized, Scotland's Highlands and Islands were similarly devastated. The blight led to crop failure, exacerbating existing social and economic challenges, including land clearances and oppressive landlord practices. The resultant famine led to significant emigration, with many Scots seeking better lives in North America and other parts of the world, reshaping the demographics and culture of the Highlands.