Hamilton, William, 1704-1754 (Scottish poet and Jacobite)
Dates
- Existence: 1704 - 1754
Biography
An Edinburgh alumnus, the poet and soldier William Hamilton of Bangour (1704-1754) counted David Hume, Adam Smith, Lord Kames, and Allan Ramsay among his friends. Hamilton played a significant and acclaimed role in the Scots Vernacular Revival, helping to absorb folk forms into high literary culture. At the same time, though, he was writing privately circulated pro-Jacobite verses, which remained unpublished during his lifetime. In 1745, he joined the Jacobite army and became its official poet. He fought at the battle of Prestonpans and wrote an ode celebrating the Jacobite victory. After Culloden, he went into hiding, eventually making his way into exile in France. He died of consumption in Lyon on the 25th of March 1754.
Found in 17 Collections and/or Records:
Manuscript entitled: "Epitaph on Mrs. Hn. 1745", 1745
This poem appears to be unpublished. It is presumably an epitaph to his wife Catherine (or Kathleen) Hall who died in 1745. It is written in a very neat cursive hand, somewhat neater than the other poems.
Manuscript poem entitled: "Escap’t old age unblemish’t and Uncloy’d And what Heaven gave of youth with worth enjoy’d / Mrs Colquhoon”, early-mid 18th century
A manuscript poem entitled "Escap’t old age unblemish’t and Uncloy’d And what Heaven gave of youth with worth enjoy’d / Mrs Colquhoon". Similar to his published poem entitled "Epitaph on Mrs Colquhoun of Luss", however, only the first two and final four lines are the same or similar, otherwise the two poems differ significantly.
Manuscript poem entitled: "Hamlet.”, early 1746
Manuscript poem entitled: "Hamlet.”, written early in 1746 and inserted anonymously in the Scots Magazine for June of the same year. Published in Hamilton's Poems (1760) under the title "A Soliloquy. In Imitation of Hamlet.”
This transcription of the poem is annotated at the end: "This very incorrect but as it only existed in my Memory I send it you — Tell Vertue for itself begins to move / And servile Fear replies melts into filial Love”.
Manuscript poem entitled: "Horace Ode 17 / To James Craig", early-mid 18th century
Manuscript poem entitled: "Interview between two fair Warriours at the Edinburgh Assembly in Imitation of Glaucus and Diomede”, early-mid 18th century
Manuscript poem entitled: "Minch Muir in Swift's Stile”, early-mid 18th century
This manuscript poem entitled: "Minch Muir in Swift's Stile" appears to be unpublished and unrecorded.
First and last lines:
"I Climbd the painfull Steep where Minch muir Shrouds / His Hoary Temples in Surrounding Clouds / Foggs Rise Eternall from his Dampfed Springs / Blew plague pale ffamine Load their Sable wings"
...
"While Mercury o’erflows her Toothless Chops / All this is Paradice to Minch muir Tops".
Manuscript poem entitled: "Ode and Universal Catholicon”, early-mid 18th century
Manuscript title (on the reverse of manuscript): "Ode and Universal Catholicon”, unpublished and unrecorded.
First and last lines:
"Let no warmer wish escape / that may wear loves sacred shape / would thou be forever dear/ be not wity but sincere"
...
"Let thy dreams & waking thought / Be with his dear image fraught / Evenin sleep it is a sin / To let other objects in / The end".
Manuscript poem entitled: "Ode on the model of Horace B. 4. O: 1”, early-mid 18th century
This poem is entitled did not appear in the 1745 edition. The 1760 published title was "Horace. Book IV. Ode I. Imitated.” There are a few corrections and amendments to the poem. These corrections were included in the posthumous 1760 edition. Several pages have annotations to the lower margins which did not appear in the printed version. They all appear to be quotes from Horace, e.g. "te per gramina martil campi”.
Manuscript poem entitled "Ode to Contemplation”, c 1747
Manuscript poem entitled "Ode to Mrs(?) Rutherford”, early-mid 18th century
Manuscript poem entitled "Ode to Mrs(?) Rutherford". Published title (1850 edition): "To Mrs A. R.”
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