David Gray (poet)
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David Gray was a Scottish poet.
The son of a handloom weaver, Gray was born at Merkland, by Kirkintilloch
, Dunbartonshire. His parents resolved to educate him for the kirk, and through their self-denial and his own exertions as a pupil teacher and private tutor he was able to complete a course of four sessions at the university of Glasgow
. He began to write poetry for The Glasgow Citizen and began his idyll on the Luggie, the little stream that ran through Merkland. His most intimate companion at this time was Robert Buchanan
, the poet; and in May 1860 the two agreed to proceed to London, with the idea of finding literary employment.
Shortly after his arrival in London Gray introduced himself to Monckton Milnes
, afterwards Lord Houghton, with whom he had previously corresponded. Lord Houghton tried to persuade him to return to Scotland, but Gray insisted on staying in London. He was unsuccessful in his efforts to place Gray's poem, The Luggie, in Cornhill Magazine
, but gave him some light literary work. He also showed him great kindness when a cold which had seized him assumed the serious form of consumption
, and sent him to Torquay
; but as the disease made rapid progress, an irresistible longing seized Gray to return to Merkland, where he arrived in January 1861, and died on the 3rd of December following, having the day before had the gratification of seeing a printed specimen copy of his poem The Luggie, published eventually by the exertions of Sydney Dobell
. He was buried in the Auld Aisle Churchyard, Kirkintilloch
, where in 1865 a monument was erected by friends far and near to his memory.
The Luggie, the principal poem of Gray, is a kind of reverie in which the scenes and events of his childhood and his early aspirations are mingled with the music of the stream which he celebrates. The series of sonnet
s, In the Shadows, was composed during the latter part of his illness. Most of his poems necessarily bear traces of immaturity, and lines may frequently be found in them which are mere echoes from Thomson, Wordsworth
or Tennyson, but they possess, nevertheless, distinct individuality, and show a real appreciation of natural beauty.
The Luggie and other Poems, with an introduction by R. Monckton Milnes, and a brief memoir by James Hedderwick, was published in 1862; and a new and enlarged edition of Gray's Poetical Works, edited by Henry Glassford Bell
, appeared in 1874. See also David Gray and other Essays, by Robert Buchanan (1868), and the same writer's poem on David Gray, in Idyls and Legends of Inverburn.
The son of a handloom weaver, Gray was born at Merkland, by Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch is a town and former burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal, about eight miles northeast of central Glasgow...
, Dunbartonshire. His parents resolved to educate him for the kirk, and through their self-denial and his own exertions as a pupil teacher and private tutor he was able to complete a course of four sessions at the university of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. He began to write poetry for The Glasgow Citizen and began his idyll on the Luggie, the little stream that ran through Merkland. His most intimate companion at this time was Robert Buchanan
Robert Williams Buchanan
Robert Williams Buchanan was a Scottish poet, novelist and dramatist.- Early life and education :He was the son of Robert Buchanan , Owenite lecturer and journalist, and was born at Caverswall, Staffordshire, England...
, the poet; and in May 1860 the two agreed to proceed to London, with the idea of finding literary employment.
Shortly after his arrival in London Gray introduced himself to Monckton Milnes
Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton
Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton FRS was an English poet, patron of literature and politician.-Background and education:...
, afterwards Lord Houghton, with whom he had previously corresponded. Lord Houghton tried to persuade him to return to Scotland, but Gray insisted on staying in London. He was unsuccessful in his efforts to place Gray's poem, The Luggie, in Cornhill Magazine
Cornhill Magazine
The Cornhill Magazine was a Victorian magazine and literary journal named after Cornhill Street in London.Cornhill was founded by George Murray Smith in 1860 and was published until 1975. It was a literary journal with a selection of articles on diverse subjects and serialisations of new novels...
, but gave him some light literary work. He also showed him great kindness when a cold which had seized him assumed the serious form of consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, and sent him to Torquay
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
; but as the disease made rapid progress, an irresistible longing seized Gray to return to Merkland, where he arrived in January 1861, and died on the 3rd of December following, having the day before had the gratification of seeing a printed specimen copy of his poem The Luggie, published eventually by the exertions of Sydney Dobell
Sydney Thompson Dobell
Sydney Thompson Dobell , English poet and critic, was born at Cranbrook, Kent.His father was a wine merchant, his mother a daughter of Samuel Thompson , a London political reformer. The family moved to Cheltenham when Dobell was twelve years old. He was educated privately, and never attended either...
. He was buried in the Auld Aisle Churchyard, Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch is a town and former burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal, about eight miles northeast of central Glasgow...
, where in 1865 a monument was erected by friends far and near to his memory.
The Luggie, the principal poem of Gray, is a kind of reverie in which the scenes and events of his childhood and his early aspirations are mingled with the music of the stream which he celebrates. The series of sonnet
Sonnet
A sonnet is one of several forms of poetry that originate in Europe, mainly Provence and Italy. A sonnet commonly has 14 lines. The term "sonnet" derives from the Occitan word sonet and the Italian word sonetto, both meaning "little song" or "little sound"...
s, In the Shadows, was composed during the latter part of his illness. Most of his poems necessarily bear traces of immaturity, and lines may frequently be found in them which are mere echoes from Thomson, Wordsworth
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads....
or Tennyson, but they possess, nevertheless, distinct individuality, and show a real appreciation of natural beauty.
The Luggie and other Poems, with an introduction by R. Monckton Milnes, and a brief memoir by James Hedderwick, was published in 1862; and a new and enlarged edition of Gray's Poetical Works, edited by Henry Glassford Bell
Henry Glassford Bell
Henry Glassford Bell , a Scottish lawyer, poet and historian.Born in Glasgow, he received his education at the Glasgow High School and at Edinburgh University. He was a member of the Scottish Bar, and became Sheriff of Lanarkshire...
, appeared in 1874. See also David Gray and other Essays, by Robert Buchanan (1868), and the same writer's poem on David Gray, in Idyls and Legends of Inverburn.