Ewen MacLachlan
Encyclopedia
Ewen MacLachlan (1775–1822) was a Scottish
scholar and poet. He is noted for his translations of ancient classical literature into Gaelic, for his own Gaelic verse, and for his contribution to Gaelic dictionaries.
MacLachlan is considered one of the most important figures in the preservation of Gaelic as a written language and written literature.
, and educated at Aberdeen University. He was librarian to University and Kings College, Aberdeen from 1800–1818, and headmaster of Aberdeen grammar school from 1810–1822. He translated the first eight books of Homer's Iliad
into Gaelic. He also composed and published his own Gaelic Attempts in Verse (1807) and Metrical Effusions (1816), and contributed greatly to the 1828 Gaelic–English Dictionary.
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...
scholar and poet. He is noted for his translations of ancient classical literature into Gaelic, for his own Gaelic verse, and for his contribution to Gaelic dictionaries.
MacLachlan is considered one of the most important figures in the preservation of Gaelic as a written language and written literature.
Life
MacLachlan was born in LochaberLochaber
District of Lochaber 1975 to 1996Highland council area shown as one of the council areas of ScotlandLochaber is one of the 16 ward management areas of the Highland Council of Scotland and one of eight former local government districts of the two-tier Highland region...
, and educated at Aberdeen University. He was librarian to University and Kings College, Aberdeen from 1800–1818, and headmaster of Aberdeen grammar school from 1810–1822. He translated the first eight books of Homer's Iliad
Iliad
The Iliad is an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to Homer. Set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek states, it tells of the battles and events during the weeks of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles...
into Gaelic. He also composed and published his own Gaelic Attempts in Verse (1807) and Metrical Effusions (1816), and contributed greatly to the 1828 Gaelic–English Dictionary.
Further reading
- Anderson, Peter John. Ewen MacLachlan: Librarian to University and Kings College, Aberdeen, 1800-1818. Aberdeen: University Press, 1918.
External links
- Ewen MacLachlan's works on GoogleBooks
- Ewen MacLachlan in Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia
- Ewen MacLachlan in The Poets and Poetry of Scotland
- Ewen MacLachlan in Sar-obair nam Bard Gaelach, or The Beauties of Gaelic Poetry and Lives of the Highland Bards