Cunningham, Allan (M)

Surname: Cunningham
Forename(s): Allan
b. 7 December 1784. d. 29 October 1842. Nationality: Scottish. VIAF.
Working-class poet and songwriter, writing in Scots. Pseudonym: “Hidallan,” “The Nithsdale Mason.” Born in Keir, Dumfriesshire. Father was a factor, and his mother a merchant’s daughter. Cunningham went to a dame school, and then became his brother’s apprentice stonemason at age eleven. As a child he knew Robert Burns. Became close friends with James Hogg and greatly admired Walter Scott. Moved to London in 1810, marrying Jean Walker on 1 July 1811. Began to work for the editor William Jerdan, and then (until 1841) as a secretary and superintendent for the sculptor Francis Chantery. Author of many books and editions of poetry and prose, including Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song (1810; although presented as Cunningham’s antiquarian collection of old songs, he composed almost everything), Songs, Chiefly in the Rural Language of Scotland (1813), Traditional Tales of the English and Scots Peasantry (1822), The Songs of Scotland (1825), and The Works and Life of Burns (1834). Biographical information: ODNB. (AC)

Poems associated with this person

Total poems: 16
Poem title Date Periodical Roles id #
Christian Kennedy’s Song 1820-04 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8426
Ballad IV. The Doom of Nithsdale 1820-08 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8738
Ballad VI. The Cameronian Banner 1820-08 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8740
Ballad II. The voice lifted up against Chapels and Churches 1820-08 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8736
Ballad I. On Mark Wilson, slain in Irongray 1820-08 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8735
Ballad V. Alexander Peden’s Harmonious Call to the Cameronians 1820-08 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8739
Ballad III. The Cameronians rejoice in the Discomfiture of the Godless at Drumclog 1820-08 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8737
The Poet’s Bridal-Day Song 1825-01 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 10175
My Ain Countree 1826-07 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 10557
Song of the Ceylonese Women 1828 Forget-Me-Not Poet 14106
Nature 1833-08-03 Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal Poet 3124
The Poet’s Bridal-Day Song 1838-01-13 Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal Poet 3518
The Town Child and the Country Child 1842-12-24 Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal Poet 5362
Hame, Hame, Hame 1842-12-24 Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal Poet 5361
Bonnie Lady Ann 1842-12-24 Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal Poet 5360
The Mother’s Call 1847-05-27 Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal Poet 5922