Hamilton, William, 1704-1754 (Scottish poet and Jacobite)

Person

Staff Only

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 At the same time, though, he was writing privately circulated pro-Jacobite verses, which remained unpublished during his lifetime.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 2 Collections and/or Records:

Collection of poems by William Hamilton of Bangour, together with related material

Collection — Box CLX-A-1704

Identifier: Coll-2023

Content Description Collection of loose-leaf manuscript verses by Jacobite poet and army officer William Hamilton of Bangour (1704-1754), together with related material. The collection appears to have emanated from a member of the Pringle family, who were related to Hamilton by marriage.The majority of the poems in this collection can be found either in the contemporary editions of Hamilton's poems, or in the later 1850 edition (see Bibliography). However, most of the present manuscript poems differ...

Dates: ca 1730-1750

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Poems of William Hamilton of Bangour, Esq., ca. 1730-1750

Item

Identifier: La.III.451

Scope and Contents

Manuscript collection containing poems of poet and soldier William Hamilton of Bangour (1704-1754). The most comprehensive edition of Hamilton's poems (1850) is based on this manuscript.

Dates: ca. 1730-1750

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Laing Collection / Section III. Bound volumes

Filtered By

Subject: Jacobites X

University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections