Patrick Hamilton
Patrick Hamilton was a 24-year-old student at St Andrews University who was executed by burning at the stake in 1582 for preaching Protestant beliefs, and his tragic fate has since led to the tradition of the May Dip, an annual ritual where students plunge into the North Sea to wash away the 'curse' associated with stepping on his initials engraved in cobblestones.
Not in the pool (under ¢1).
Recent news mentions
Patrick Hamilton is the author of the play 'Gas Light' which introduced the term gaslighting.
Bis man am eigenen Verstand zweifelt: Gaslighting als perfide Manipulation
Switzerland· 2026-01-27
Patrick Hamilton is the Head of the Delegation of the CICR in Colombia, who expressed concerns about the increasing hostilities affecting the civilian population.
'El deterioro de la situación humanitaria en Colombia alcanzó su punto más crítico en los últimos ocho años': CICR
Colombia· 2025-03-28Patrick Hamilton was a 24-year-old student who, in 1582, suffered the ghastly fate of being burnt at the stake for preaching Protestant beliefs.
Annual rituals at Scotland’s St Andrews University are spectacles like no other
Australia· 2025-03-25