Working-class poet, printer’s apprentice, school inspector, and journalist. Born in
Thornliebank, Renfrewshire. Donald’s father (also a poet as well as a Chartist) shared
the same name. Briefly attended a day school in St. Rollox, Glasgow, and later a night
school at Thornliebank and at the Glasgow School of Art. Employed as apprentice for
the printers J. & W. Crumm from the age of twelve, at sixteen as their pattern designer,
and then at age twenty two worked in Glasgow warehouses. In 1858 became a journalist
for the *North British Daily Mail* (mainly as the Paisley correspondent), and in 1870
became assistant inspector for the Govan School Board. Author of *Poems: Reflective,
Descriptive, and Miscellaneous* (1865). Biographical information: D. H. Edwards, *Modern
Scottish Poets*, second series, D. H. Edwards, 1881, p. 72; Robert Brown, *Paisley
Poets, with Brief Memoirs of them, and Selections from their Poetry*, vol. 2, J. &
J. Cook, 1890, pp. 229-30. (AC)