William Julius Mickle
Encyclopedia
William Julius Mickle was a Scottish
poet
.
Son of the minister of Langholm, Dumfriesshire, he was for some time a brewer
in Edinburgh
, but failed. He moved to England where he worked as a corrector for the Clarendon Press at Oxford
. In 1771-75 Mickle lodged at the manor house in Forest Hill, Oxfordshire
. Mickle had various literary failures and minor successes until, while at Forest Hill, he produced his translation of the Lusiad
, from the Portuguese
of Luís de Camões
. This was a success that brought him both fame and money.
In 1777 he went to Portugal
, where he was received with distinction. In 1784 he published the ballad of Cumnor Hall, which suggested to Scott
the writing of Kenilworth
. He is perhaps best remembered, however, by the beautiful lyric, There's nae luck aboot the Hoose, which, although claimed by others, is almost certainly his.
In 1781 Mickle married Mary Tomkins, the daughter of his former landlord in Forest Hill, and settled in Wheatley
. He died in 1788 while on a visit to his in-laws, and is buried in Forest Hill churchyard.
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...
poet
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...
.
Son of the minister of Langholm, Dumfriesshire, he was for some time a brewer
Brewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BCE, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt...
in 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...
, but failed. He moved to England where he worked as a corrector for the Clarendon Press at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. In 1771-75 Mickle lodged at the manor house in Forest Hill, Oxfordshire
Forest Hill, Oxfordshire
Forest Hill is a village in Forest Hill with Shotover civil parish in Oxfordshire, about east of Oxford.-Manor:The toponym is derived from the Old English forst-hyll meaning "hill ridge". It has no etymological connection with forests....
. Mickle had various literary failures and minor successes until, while at Forest Hill, he produced his translation of the Lusiad
Os Lusíadas
Os Lusíadas , usually translated as The Lusiads, is a Portuguese epic poem by Luís Vaz de Camões ....
, from the Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
of Luís de Camões
Luís de Camões
Luís Vaz de Camões is considered Portugal's and the Portuguese language's greatest poet. His mastery of verse has been compared to that of Shakespeare, Vondel, Homer, Virgil and Dante. He wrote a considerable amount of lyrical poetry and drama but is best remembered for his epic work Os Lusíadas...
. This was a success that brought him both fame and money.
In 1777 he went to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, where he was received with distinction. In 1784 he published the ballad of Cumnor Hall, which suggested to Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
the writing of Kenilworth
Kenilworth (novel)
Kenilworth. A Romance is a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, first published on 8 January 1821.-Plot introduction:Kenilworth is apparently set in 1575, and centers on the secret marriage of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, and Amy Robsart, daughter of Sir Hugh Robsart...
. He is perhaps best remembered, however, by the beautiful lyric, There's nae luck aboot the Hoose, which, although claimed by others, is almost certainly his.
In 1781 Mickle married Mary Tomkins, the daughter of his former landlord in Forest Hill, and settled in Wheatley
Wheatley, Oxfordshire
Wheatley is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, about east of Oxford.-Archaeology:There was a Roman villa on Castle Hill, about southeast of the parish church. It was excavated in 1845, when Roman coins dating from AD 260 to 378 and fragments of Roman pottery and Roman tiles were...
. He died in 1788 while on a visit to his in-laws, and is buried in Forest Hill churchyard.