John Wilson (Scottish poet)
John Wilson, a Scottish poet born on May 18, 1785, in Paisley, was a notable figure in the literary landscape of the early 19th century. He was the fourth of ten children in a manufacturing family and inherited a substantial fortune after his father's death. Wilson's academic journey included studies at Glasgow University and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he distinguished himself both as an athlete and a poet, winning the Newdigate Prize in 1806. He became acquainted with prominent poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and he contributed significantly to literary periodicals, most notably Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, under the pseudonym Christopher North.
Throughout his career, Wilson published several poetry collections and novels, reflecting his evolving literary style and interests. Despite personal challenges, including financial losses and the death of his wife, he remained an influential literary figure until his health declined in later years. Wilson's legacy is marked by his vibrant contributions to Scottish literature and his role in shaping the discourse of his time through wit and critical reviews. He passed away on April 3, 1854, leaving behind a rich literary heritage.
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John Wilson (Scottish poet)
Poet
- Born: May 18, 1785
- Birthplace: Paisley, Scotland
- Died: April 3, 1854
Biography
John Wilson was born on May 18, 1785, in Paisley, Scotland, the fourth of the ten children of manufacturer John Wilson and his wife Margaret, née Sym. When his father died in 1797, he inherited fifty thousand pounds and was placed in the care of Glasgow University. In 1802, he wrote a letter to poet William Wordsworth expressing great admiration for Wordsworth’s book, Lyrical Ballads, and received a warm reply. In 1803, he transferred to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he obtained his B.A. in 1807 and his M.A. in 1810. He built a reputation as an outstanding athlete but was also noted for his intellect; he won the first Newdigate Prize for poetry in 1806. After attaining his majority he bought the estate of Elleray, overlooking Lake Windermere in Cumbria, and moved there in 1807 to become a poet. He cultivated the acquaintance of Wordsworth and the poets Thomas De Quincey, Robert Southey, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and he became a contributor to Coleridge’s periodical The Friend.
In 1810, Wilson met Jane Penny, the daughter of a Liverpool merchant who was holidaying in Ambleside; they married on May 11, 1811. They had three daughters and two sons. He bought a town house in Edinburgh in 1813, a year after publishing a collection of poems, The Isle of Palms, and Other Poems (1812). He published another collection of his poetry, The City of the Plague, and Other Poems, in 1816. During this time, Wilson left the care of his finances to an uncle, whose corrupt stewardship caused Wilson to lose most of his fortune. Wilson’s misfortune was partly redeemed when he was called to the Scottish bar and when he was appointed a professor of philosophy at Edinburgh University in 1820. He continued to write, issuing a volume of sentimental, quasi-Arcadian stories, Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life in 1822, and two novels, The Trials of Margaret Lyndsay (1823) and The Foresters (1825).
Wilson had been a contributor to Edinburgh Monthly Magazine (later called Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine) from its launch in 1817. When its editor, John Lockhart, moved to London to take up the editorship of the Quarterly Review in 1826, Wilson became Blackwood’s guiding spirit, although he was never officially named as its editor. He wrote hundreds of articles over the next twenty-five years. Wilson wrote most of the items that appeared in the magazine’s column, “Noctes Ambrosianae, “ using the pseudonym Christopher North. He chronicled the boisterous nights and satirical discussions that took place at the legendary Ambrose’s Tavern in Edinburgh, a popular gathering place for local writers. His heart having hardened since his early days as a Romantic and sentimentalist, he was a savage reviewer on occasion, calling forth wounded replies from Alfred, Lord Tennyson and others. The “maga,” as Blackwood’s was affectionately known, thrived under Wilson’s guidance, retaining its unique character in spite of the imitations and rivals it spawned.
Wilson’s wife, Jane, died in 1837, causing her widower much grief. In 1840, Wilson’s right hand became paralyzed and his health deteriorated steadily thereafter. In 1851, he resigned his professorship and released the reins of the “maga.” He lived on a pension until he died on April 3, 1854.