Beetty Dick
Scottish town crier
About Beetty Dick
Lived 1693 – 1773 (aged 79–80). Beetty Dick was a town crier.
Beetty Dick (1693-1773) was an elderly town crier for Dalkeith, a town in Midlothian, Scotland in the mid-18th century.
Instead of using a bell, Dick would beat a wooden plate with a spoon making a loud din to draw attention to announcements, working for just a penny per announcement. She was known for wearing a distinctive long gown, cap and cloak. Dick never married and died in 1773, her remains were interred at the east side of the old Churchyard, Dalkeith.
Dick was drawn by artist John Kay in his published work A Series of Original Portraits and the portrait hangs in an exhibition in a collection at the Dalkeith Museum.
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Important facts
People in Beetty Dick's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Beetty Dick's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Beetty Dick?
Scottish town crier (1693–1773)
When was Beetty Dick born?
Beetty Dick was born in 1693.
When did Beetty Dick die?
Beetty Dick died in 1773.
What was Beetty Dick's occupation?
Beetty Dick was a town crier.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Beetty Dick. https://biography.guide/beetty-dick/
MLA: "Beetty Dick." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/beetty-dick/.
Chicago: "Beetty Dick." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/beetty-dick/.
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