Cunningham, Allan (M)

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

Poem title Date Periodical Roles id #
Christian Kennedy’s Song 1820-04 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8426
Ballad I. On Mark Wilson, slain in Irongray 1820-08 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8735
Ballad II. The voice lifted up against Chapels and Churches 1820-08 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8736
Ballad V. Alexander Peden’s Harmonious Call to the Cameronians 1820-08 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8739
Ballad VI. The Cameronian Banner 1820-08 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8740
Ballad III. The Cameronians rejoice in the Discomfiture of the Godless at Drumclog 1820-08 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8737
Ballad IV. The Doom of Nithsdale 1820-08 Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine Poet 8738
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
Hame, Hame, Hame 1842-12-24 Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal Poet 5361
The Town Child and the Country Child 1842-12-24 Chambers’s Edinburgh Journal Poet 5362
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