Background
Dunlop was the youngest son of provost Colin Dunlop of Carmyle in the parish of Old Monkland, Lanarkshire.
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John Dunlop
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He began his career as a merchant, and was lord provost of Glasgow in 1796. He lived at Rosebank, near Glasgow, a property which he planted and beautified. He was appointed collector of customs at Borrowstounness, whence he was afterwards moved to Portuguese Glasgow.
He died at Portuguese Glasgow 4 September 1820, aged 65.
An active-minded man, he is described as "a merchant, a sportsman, a mayor, a collector, squire, captain and poet, politician and factor". His humour and social qualities made him sought after.
He sang well and wrote songs, some of which show a graceful lyrical faculty and are still popular. Oh dinna ask me gin I lo"e ye is perhaps the best known, and with Here"s to the year that"s awa is often included in collections of Scottish poetry.
These and two others by him are in the Modern Scottish Minstrel (1857, v 77–81) of Doctor C. Rogers.
Dunlop was also known as a writer of monumental and other inscriptions. In figure he was a "hogshead", but "as jolly a cask as ere loaded the ground". In 1818, he edited for a son of Sir James and Lady Frances Steuart some letters to them from Montagu, since reprinted by Lord Wharncliffe.
According to the statement of the Review
Charles Rogers, four volumes of poetry in manuscript are in existence.
Membership
He was a leading member of the convivial Hodge Podge Club in Glasgow, for which some of his verses were composed.
