Digital Victorian Periodical Poetry

Poet and scholar of oriental languages. Born in Anstruther, Fife. Student at the University of St. Andrews (1799-1801), but abandoned degree due to financial problems. Worked as clerk for his brother in Glasgow and Anstruther, and briefly imprisoned because of his brother’s debts. Author of hugely successful Anster Fair (1812). Began work as a schoolmaster in 1813, and appointed as Professor of Hebrew and Oriental Languages at the University of St. Andrews in 1834. Biographical information: ODNB. (AC)