The first settlement sprang up in Dundee city centre in the 11 th century - the city celebrated its octocentenary in 1991.

Dundee derived its name either from Dondie from the Latin Donum Dei meaning Gift of God or from the Gaelic Dun Deagh, Fort of Fire.

Dundonian Admiral Adam Duncan - a contemporary of Lord Nelson - masterminded the defeat of the Dutch navy at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797 and became a national hero.

The Royal Research Ship Discovery - which was captained by Robert Falcon Scott on his journey to the Antarctic - was built in the city. It returned to Dundee in 1988 and has become a major tourist attraction.

Dundee has played host to the pioneers of aspirin, electric light, wireless telegraphy, manned flight, X-Rays, the adhesive postage stamp, keyhole surgery and radar.

Dundee was the centre of the world's jute textiles industry - a position commemorated in the city's award winning Verdant Works museum.

Dundee was a great whaling port whose ships and crew criss-crossed the world's oceans.