Sir Harry Lauder was born - On this day in history

Scottish entertainer Sir Harry Lauder was born on 4 August 1870 in Portobello. Sir Harry's career in entertainment began when he sang whilst working in the coal mines, to entertain himself and his fellow workers. Before long, his workmates encouraged him to sing at local clubs and he began to earn money, leaving the coal mines to take a panto role at Glasgow's Theatre Royal.

Sir Harry was a big charity fundraiser and also did much to contribute to recruitment drives during World War One, at one point paying a band of bagpipers to march in order to persuade young men to sign up to the armed forces. He raised over £1 million to help injured servicemen and was knighted for this work in 1919.

Among Sir Harry Lauder's best known songs are Roamin in the Gloamin' and Keep Right on to the End of the Road, written after his only son was killed in World War One. Harry himself died in 1950 at the age of 79.