James Hyslop
Encyclopedia
James Hyslop was a Scottish poet.
Hyslop was early put out to farm-work, but managed to teach himself English
, Latin
, French
, mathematics
, and algebra
. From 1812 to 1816 he was engaged as a shepherd
on Nether Wellwood farm, in the parish of Muirkirk
, and his contributions to the 'Greenock
Advertiser' and other newspaper
s were frequently signed 'The Muirkirk Shepherd.' Between 1816 and 1818 he was employed at Corsebank, whence he wrote a poetical epistle to his early Kirkconnel teacher
, signed 'James Hislop.' He afterwards invariably adopted the spelling Hyslop
.
In 1818 he went to Greenock
, where he opened a day-school, and wrote for the 'Edinburgh
Magazine
'. He was at first fairly successful, but his prospects were blasted by his having to pay a considerable sum for which he had become security to oblige a friend. Leaving Greenock in 1821, he obtained a post as tutor on board His Majesty's ship Doris, which was about to proceed to South America
The voyage lasted for three years, and an account of it was given by Hyslop in a series of eleven papers contributed to the 'Edinburgh Magazine,' May-November 1825.
Hyslop was next engaged as a reporter in London
in 1826, where he was intimate with Allan Cunningham
, Edward Irving
, and others; but the work proved too heavy for him, and he again took to teaching, first as superintendent of a charity school, and afterwards as tutor on board His Majesty's ship Tweed. The vessel sailed for the Cape of Good Hope
in October 1827, and on 4 Nov. Hyslop died of fever off the Cape Verde
Islands, in the Atlantic. His body was consigned to the sea with military honours.
Hyslop's claim to recognition rests almost solely on his poem, The Cameronian Dream. From his earliest years, while shepherd at Nether Wellwood, near the scene of the battle where Richard Cameron
was killed, Hyslop had been familiar with the story of the Scottish martyr
s, whose experiences and surroundings he here describes in stirring language. Among his eighty-two poems, collected in 1887 by Mr. Mearns, "The Scottish Sacramental Sabbath", "The Scottish National Melody", and "The Child's Dream" have also attained considerable popularity in Scotland
.
Most of Hyslop's poetry published during his lifetime appeared in the Edinburgh Magazine from 1819 onwards. He wrote a good deal in prose, chiefly upon the persecution of the Covenanter
s. Two essays in the Edinburgh Magazine, 1820, "A Defence of Modern Scottish Poetry", and "An Account of an Apparition in Airsmoss", are worthy of note.
Hyslop was early put out to farm-work, but managed to teach himself English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, and algebra
Algebra
Algebra is the branch of mathematics concerning the study of the rules of operations and relations, and the constructions and concepts arising from them, including terms, polynomials, equations and algebraic structures...
. From 1812 to 1816 he was engaged as a shepherd
Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards flocks of sheep.- Origins :Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool...
on Nether Wellwood farm, in the parish of Muirkirk
Muirkirk
Muirkirk is a small village in East Ayrshire, southwest Scotland. It is located on the north bank of the River Ayr, between Cumnock and Glenbuck on the A70...
, and his contributions to the 'Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
Advertiser' and other newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s were frequently signed 'The Muirkirk Shepherd.' Between 1816 and 1818 he was employed at Corsebank, whence he wrote a poetical epistle to his early Kirkconnel teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, signed 'James Hislop.' He afterwards invariably adopted the spelling Hyslop
Hyslop
Hyslop may refer to:*Fiona Hyslop , Scottish politician*Jeff Hyslop , Canadian actor*Kenny Hyslop , Scottish drummer*Kirk Hyslop , Canadian architect...
.
In 1818 he went to Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, where he opened a day-school, and wrote for the 'Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
Magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
'. He was at first fairly successful, but his prospects were blasted by his having to pay a considerable sum for which he had become security to oblige a friend. Leaving Greenock in 1821, he obtained a post as tutor on board His Majesty's ship Doris, which was about to proceed to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
The voyage lasted for three years, and an account of it was given by Hyslop in a series of eleven papers contributed to the 'Edinburgh Magazine,' May-November 1825.
Hyslop was next engaged as a reporter in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1826, where he was intimate with Allan Cunningham
Allan Cunningham
Allan Cunningham was a Scottish poet and author.He was born at Keir, near Dalswinton, Dumfriesshire, and first worked as a stonemason's apprentice. His father was a neighbour of Robert Burns at Ellisland, and Allan with his brother James visited James Hogg, the "Ettrick shepherd", who became a...
, Edward Irving
Edward Irving
*For Edward Irving, the Canadian geologist, see Edward A. Irving.Edward Irving was a Scottish clergyman, generally regarded as the main figure behind the foundation of the Catholic Apostolic Church.-Youth:...
, and others; but the work proved too heavy for him, and he again took to teaching, first as superintendent of a charity school, and afterwards as tutor on board His Majesty's ship Tweed. The vessel sailed for the Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
in October 1827, and on 4 Nov. Hyslop died of fever off the Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
Islands, in the Atlantic. His body was consigned to the sea with military honours.
Hyslop's claim to recognition rests almost solely on his poem, The Cameronian Dream. From his earliest years, while shepherd at Nether Wellwood, near the scene of the battle where Richard Cameron
Richard Cameron
Richard Cameron may refer to:*Richard Cameron *Richard Cameron *Richard Cameron, member of Dutch electronic music duo Arling & Cameron...
was killed, Hyslop had been familiar with the story of the Scottish martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
s, whose experiences and surroundings he here describes in stirring language. Among his eighty-two poems, collected in 1887 by Mr. Mearns, "The Scottish Sacramental Sabbath", "The Scottish National Melody", and "The Child's Dream" have also attained considerable popularity in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Most of Hyslop's poetry published during his lifetime appeared in the Edinburgh Magazine from 1819 onwards. He wrote a good deal in prose, chiefly upon the persecution of the Covenanter
Covenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
s. Two essays in the Edinburgh Magazine, 1820, "A Defence of Modern Scottish Poetry", and "An Account of an Apparition in Airsmoss", are worthy of note.