The New International Encyclopædia/Wilson, John (scottish writer)

WILSON, John, the Christopher North of Blackwood's Magazine (1785-1854). A Scottish writer, born May 18, 1785, at Paisley, and educated at Glasgow and Oxford. Inheriting fnnn his father an estate of £50,000, he purehased the property of Elleray overlooking Lake Windermere, where he settled as gentleman and poet. There, in the Lake District, he associated intimately with Wordsworth and came to know well De Quincey, Southey, and Coleridge. To this period belong two volumes of graceful verse — The Isle of Palms ( 1812) and The Cih/ of the Plague (1810). Having lost his fortune through a dishonest uncle, lie migrated to Edinburgh, where he took a memorable hand with J. G. Lockhart (q.v.) in the Blackwood's Magazine (q.v.) for October, 1817. Thereafter, till near his death, he was the leading writer for this famous Tory magazine, though he was never strictly its editor. In 1820 he was appointed professor of moral philosophy in the University of Edinburgh, defeating in the contest Sir William Hamilton. His only claim to the post was his rampant Toryism, then regarded as sufficient. Wilson nevertheless was an enthusiastic teacher and inspired his pupils, even if he had nothing very profound to impart to them. In 1822 he began in Blackwood's the symposium known as the Noctes Ambrosianae (q.v.). Here Wilson is seen at his best — his wit, humor, and pathos. The "Ettrick Shepherd," an idealized portrait of James Hogg (q.v.). is a masterly creation. The death of the 'Shepherd' in 1835 necessarily put an end to these delightful banquets. In the earlier days Wilson also contributed to Blaeku:ood's three good novels, afterwards published separately: Lights and Shadous of Heoftish Life (1822); The Trials of Margaret Lipuhay (1823) ; and The Foresters (1825). Later came the substantial essays on Homer, Spenser, and all manner of papers on contemporary writers and subjects. For 1834 the number reached fully 54 distinct contributions. In 1837 Wilson lost his -wife and never recovered from his grief. On resigning his professorship in 1851 he was granted a pension of £300 a year. He died in Edinburgh, April 3, 1854. In 1865 a statue was erected to his mem- ory in Princess Street Gardens. Consult his Works, edited by P. J. Ferrier (12 vols., Edinburgh, 1855-58) ; the Noctes Amhrosianw, edited by R. S. Mackenzie (5 vols., New York, 1854); Memoir by his daughter, M. W. Gordon (2 vols., Edinburgh, 1802) ; and for a good estimate, G. Saintsburv's Essays in English Literature (London. 1890).