Bruce Durie

Bruce Durie BSc PhD FLS FSAScot FIGRS FHEA is a Scottish neuroscientist, genealogist, and author. Born in 1954, he started and ran (until Sept 2011) the Professional Postgraduate Programme in Genealogical Studies at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.

Personal life and education

Bruce Durie was born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, and educated at Kirkcaldy High School and the University of Edinburgh. Originally a biochemist/pharmacologist, teaching and researching in those disciplines at Edinburgh, Polytechnic of Central London, Kingston University and elsewhere, he was awarded the IBRO/UNESCO Fellowship in 1977 as "Scotland's most promising young neuroscientist". He later worked as Head of External Affairs at Kingston University, Director of the Edinburgh International Science Festival and Director of Development (CPD) at Napier University, Edinburgh.

Genealogical career

Bruce Durie left Napier University to take up full-time writing and professional genealogy. Now he combines genealogical research on behalf of clients - mainly in the US and Europe - with an academic position as Chair of Genealogy and Palaeography at the American School of Genealogy, Heraldry and Documentary Sciences. He is also the Sennachie (Genealogist and Historian) to the Chief of the Durie family. He is currently also writing a series of genealogical manuals and textbooks for a variety of publishers. He also teaches courses in Genealogy and Documents/Palaeography at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Writing

Bruce Durie's IT and internet books for How To Books were best sellers. He is also the author of a number of historical works for Sutton Publishing. His interest in Victorian crime is expressed in his loving recreation of the works of J E P Muddock (Dick Donovan), one of the most influential detective story writers and popular before Sherlock Holmes, but now largely forgotten. His own Victorian detective fiction had its first outing with The Murder of Young Tom Morris.

Books published

Business & IT Non-Fiction

• Medicine - McDonalds Educational Press, London, 1987 (Short-listed for the Royal Society/ COPUS Science Book Prize, 1988)
• Success and Creativity in Pharmaceutical Research and Development. - IBC, London 1991
• Creating a Web Site - How To Books August 1998
• 1000 Best Web Sites - How To Books September 1999
• e-Business – Selling on the Internet - How To Books August 2000
• e-Business Essentials - Top tips on running a business on the Internet -How To Books July 2000
• Quick Fix Your Web Life - 450 of the best sites together with over 200 tips for getting the best from your computer How To Books February 2000

Fiction

• The High History of the Holy Quail - Gath-Askelon Publishing (2001)
• The Murder of Young Tom Morris - Gath-Askelon Publishing (2004)
• Dick Donovan - The Glasgow Detective - Mercat Press (2006)
• (Ed) The Man-Hunter by Dick Donovan : facsimile reproduction of the original 1888 Chatto & Windus volume with critical introduction - Gath-Askelon (2005)
• (Ed) Caught At Last! by Dick Donovan: facsimile reproduction of the original 1889 Chatto & Windus volume with critical introduction - Gath-Askelon (2005)
• (Ed) Romances from a Detective’s Case-Book: the Dick Donovan stories from Strand, 1892, republished with additional and interpretative material - Gath-Askelon (2005)

Local History and Genealogy

• A Century of Glasgow - Sutton Publishing (October 2000)
• Glasgow Past and Present - Sutton Publishing (October 2001)
• Kirkcaldy & East Fife - Sutton Publishing (May 2002)
• A Century of Dunfermline Sutton Publishing (November 2002)
• The Story of Stirling - Sutton Publishing (May 2003)
• Scottish Genealogy Sutton Publishing (3rd Edn 2011)

Plays

• Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Pneumonic Numismatist. 1991 (performed at 12 locations around the UK and in Chicago, US, starring Simon Williams and William Simons).
• MacPherson’s Rant (Written for and performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 1992)
• Screenplay for MacPherson’s Rant (Feature film, currently in development)