Thomas Blacklock
Author
1721 – 1791
Who was Thomas Blacklock?
Thomas Blacklock was a Scottish poet.
He was born near Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, of humble parentage, and lost his sight as a result of smallpox when six months old. He began to write poetry at the age of 12, and studied for the Church. He was appointed Minister of Kirkcudbright, but was objected to by the parishioners on account of his blindness, and gave up the presentation on receiving an annuity.
During the 1750s he was sponsored by the empiricist philosopher David Hume
He then retired to Edinburgh, where he became a tutor. He published some miscellaneous poems, which are now forgotten, and is chiefly remembered for having written a letter to Robert Burns, which had the effect of dissuading him from going to the West Indies, indirectly saving his life since the ship sank on the voyage. He was made D.D. in 1767 from the University of Aberdeen.
He died at his home in Chapel Street, Edinburgh, and was buried across the way in the churchyard of St Cuthbert's Chapel of Ease.
The building in which he lived now contains two pubs: Peartree House and The Blind Poet.
We need you!
Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!
- Born
- Nov 10, 1721
Annan - Nationality
- Scotland
- Education
- University of Edinburgh
- Lived in
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Died
- Jul 7, 1791
Edinburgh
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Thomas Blacklock." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 May 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/thomas_blacklock>.
Discuss this Thomas Blacklock biography with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In