William Wilson (poet)
Encyclopedia
William Wilson was a Scottish-American poet
, bookseller and publisher.
songs and ballads of her native land. While a boy he lost his father, the merchant's death being preceded by his failure in business. A bachelor uncle's fortune in Jamaica
was in some way lost to his brother's children, for whom it was intended, so that Wilson's early life was accompanied by many deprivations, including the completion of his education. At 22, he became the editor of the Dundee
Literary Olio, a large proportion of which he wrote, in both prose and verse.
By 1826, Wilson had married and moved with his wife to Edinburgh
at the urging of influential friends; he became established in business, and joined the literary circle of Christopher North
. That same year his young wife died, and he expressed his sorrow in poetry. In 1830, Wilson married Miss Sibbald, of Borthaugh, a descendant of Sir Andrew Sibbald and a niece of James Sibbald, the literary antiquary and editor of the Chronicle of Scottish Poetry, also the friend of Robert Burns
. They had three sons together.
Wilson published poems in the Edinburgh Literary Journal and other leading periodicals. At this period, the young poet's charming conversation and manners made him a welcome guest in the literary circles of Edinburgh. At the house of Mrs. Grant, of Laggan
, he was a constant visitor, and she owned his portrait by Sir John Watson Gordon.
When 32 years of age, Wilson and his wife emigrated to the United States and settled at Poughkeepsie, New York, on the Hudson River
. He was a bookseller and publisher, which he continued till his death, a portion of the time in partnership with the elder brother of Bishops Alonzo and Horatio Potter, and later with his son, James Grant
. Wilson occasionally contributed in prose and verse — generally anonymously — to various American periodicals. Sometimes he sent contributions to the British Blackwood or Chambers's Journal. Selections of his poems appeared in The Cabinet, Modern Scottish Minstrel, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
's Poems of Places, but he never issued them in a volume. It was not till 1869 that a portion of his poems were published in Poughkeepsie with a memoir by Benson J. Lossing. A second edition, with additional poems, appeared in 1875, and a third in 1884. Willis pronounced one of Wilson's poems “the best modern imitation of the old ballad style that he had ever met with,” and William Cullen Bryant
said “the song in which the writer personates Richard the Lion-hearted during his imprisonment is more spirited than any of the ballads of Aytoun.”
All of Wilson's sons by his second marriage served in the Civil War
: James attained the rank of brevet brigadier general; the second fell at the head of his company at Fredericksburg, Virginia
; and the youngest, leaving his studies at 16, volunteered with several of his classmates and went to the front.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, bookseller and publisher.
Biography
At an early age William was imbued with a passionate love of poetry, derived from his mother, who sang the JacobiteJacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
songs and ballads of her native land. While a boy he lost his father, the merchant's death being preceded by his failure in business. A bachelor uncle's fortune in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
was in some way lost to his brother's children, for whom it was intended, so that Wilson's early life was accompanied by many deprivations, including the completion of his education. At 22, he became the editor of the Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
Literary Olio, a large proportion of which he wrote, in both prose and verse.
By 1826, Wilson had married and moved with his wife to 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...
at the urging of influential friends; he became established in business, and joined the literary circle of Christopher North
Christopher North
-Biography :Born Christopher North Renquist in Austin, TX on February 6, 1969, Christopher North is a multi-instrumental composer and singer-songwriter based in New York City...
. That same year his young wife died, and he expressed his sorrow in poetry. In 1830, Wilson married Miss Sibbald, of Borthaugh, a descendant of Sir Andrew Sibbald and a niece of James Sibbald, the literary antiquary and editor of the Chronicle of Scottish Poetry, also the friend of Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
. They had three sons together.
Wilson published poems in the Edinburgh Literary Journal and other leading periodicals. At this period, the young poet's charming conversation and manners made him a welcome guest in the literary circles of Edinburgh. At the house of Mrs. Grant, of Laggan
Laggan
Laggan is the name of numerous places in Scotland, including:*Laggan, Badenoch*Laggan Dam on the River Spean south west of Loch Laggan*Laggan, Great Glen*Laggan, Islay*Loch Laggan, Highland*River Laggan, Islayalso:...
, he was a constant visitor, and she owned his portrait by Sir John Watson Gordon.
When 32 years of age, Wilson and his wife emigrated to the United States and settled at Poughkeepsie, New York, on the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. He was a bookseller and publisher, which he continued till his death, a portion of the time in partnership with the elder brother of Bishops Alonzo and Horatio Potter, and later with his son, James Grant
James Grant Wilson
James Grant Wilson was an American editor, author, bookseller and publisher, who founded the Chicago Record in 1857, the first literary paper in that region. During the American Civil War, he was commissioned as a major of the 15th Illinois Cavalry and became a brevet brigadier general in 1865...
. Wilson occasionally contributed in prose and verse — generally anonymously — to various American periodicals. Sometimes he sent contributions to the British Blackwood or Chambers's Journal. Selections of his poems appeared in The Cabinet, Modern Scottish Minstrel, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
's Poems of Places, but he never issued them in a volume. It was not till 1869 that a portion of his poems were published in Poughkeepsie with a memoir by Benson J. Lossing. A second edition, with additional poems, appeared in 1875, and a third in 1884. Willis pronounced one of Wilson's poems “the best modern imitation of the old ballad style that he had ever met with,” and William Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant was an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.-Youth and education:...
said “the song in which the writer personates Richard the Lion-hearted during his imprisonment is more spirited than any of the ballads of Aytoun.”
All of Wilson's sons by his second marriage served in the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
: James attained the rank of brevet brigadier general; the second fell at the head of his company at Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
; and the youngest, leaving his studies at 16, volunteered with several of his classmates and went to the front.