b. 16 July 1784. d. 28 September 1846. Nationality: Scottish. VIAF.
Working-class poet writing in Scots, music teacher, editor, and journalist. Known
as “Sandy Rodger” and “The Radical Poet.” Worked as a handloom weaver from 1797. Joined
the Glasgow Highland volunteers in 1803. Married Agnes Turner on 18 May 1806. Briefly
imprisoned for alleged sedition in 1820. Sub-editor of the Glasgow radical newspaper
*Spirit of the Union* from 1819, editor of the *Reformers’ Gazette*, and editor and
contributor to the *Whistle-Binkie* series. Poetry volumes include *Scotch Poetry*
(1821), *Peter Cornclips*, *Poems and Songs, Humorous and Satirical* (1838), *Stray
Leaves* (1842). Biographical information: *ODNB*; Goodrich. (AC)